The Vegas Golden Knights had lots going in opposition to them Thursday evening, getting badly outshot within the first interval and trailing by two targets within the third.
Then they turned it round, scoring twice to pressure time beyond regulation earlier than Alex Pietrangelo knocked in a rebound 42 seconds into the additional interval to defeat the visiting Calgary Flames 4-3.
“I assumed we chipped away extra as the sport went on,” Pietrangelo mentioned. “We had been extra aggressive, I believe. They’re on a back-to-back, and we type of put them on their heels.”
The Knights, who lead the Western Conference with 75 factors, prolonged their factors streak to eight video games. They are 6-0-2 throughout that stretch.
“You’ve bought to have the ability to win these video games in case you count on to advance [in the playoffs],” Knights coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned. “We’ve bought to get there first, and that is the place these two factors actually matter. That is a much bigger signal to me, the massive image is we are able to play these video games in opposition to a heavy crew.”
WATCH | Pietrangelo sinks Flames in OT:
Pietrangelo scores time beyond regulation winner as Golden Knights douse Flames
Alex Pietrangelo scored in time beyond regulation because the Vegas Golden Knights scored three straight targets to rally previous the Calgary Flames 4-3.
Zach Whitecloud and William Carrier scored within the third interval for Vegas to erase the two-goal deficit.
Then in time beyond regulation, Jonathan Marchessault took a shot from the slot that almost went into the online, however dropped behind Calgary goalie Dan Vladar. Pietrangelo was there to knock within the puck. Jack Eichel had the secondary help for his second level of the evening after earlier scoring a aim.
Eichel’s aim got here on a second-period energy play. His shot from the left circle ended a skid of 25 probabilities and not using a power-play aim, and the Knights had transformed simply certainly one of their earlier 32.
Jakob Pelletier, Jonathan Huberdeau and Mikael Backlund had targets for the Flames. This was Backlund’s fourth recreation in a row with a aim, and he has eight factors in his previous 5 video games.
Backlund and Pelletier every had two factors.
That Mikael Backlund is so scorching proper now 🔥 <a href=”https://t.co/dhzgzVmc2F”>pic.twitter.com/dhzgzVmc2F</a>
—@NHLFlames
Calgary dominated early taking 16 of the primary 18 photographs on targets, outshooting the Knights 18-8 general within the first interval. The Flames had three energy performs within the interval, taking 5 photographs on aim on their first man benefit and scoring on the second.
Vegas was lucky to solely be down a aim after the primary, with Laurent Brossoit developing with key saves amongst his 17 stops within the interval.
“I do not suppose we ever thought we could not win it,” Cassidy mentioned. “I wasn’t certain within the first interval we felt that method.”
Brossoit wound up making 25 saves for his first victory since March 4 at Anaheim. He had low season hip surgical procedure after which spent almost your entire season enjoying for the Knights’ American Hockey League affiliate in Henderson earlier than accidents on the high degree gave him this chance.
“I’ve been ready for this all yr,” Brossoit mentioned.
His wait almost needed to final a little bit longer when the Flames took 3-1 lead within the second interval, however the benefit did not maintain up as Calgary performed only a evening after successful 6-3 at Arizona. Calgary had only one shot on aim within the closing interval of regulation.
“I believe fatigue caught up with us a little bit bit,” Flames coach Darryl Sutter mentioned. “I believe the second aim, the goalie wish to have that again, for certain. A 3-1 recreation, you prefer to take that as far into the interval as you’ll be able to.”
The Flames face the Avalanche in Colorado on Saturday.
