Golden Knights rally for 4-3 victory over Blackhawks

Gord Dwyer skated backward toward center ice, reached to turn on the microphone attached to his waist and prepared to make his announcement.

Earlier, the referee was the target of boos from many in the announced crowd of 18,494 at T-Mobile Arena when the Golden Knights had a goal disallowed for goaltender interference.

This time, he delivered good news.

Alex Tuch’s goal with 11:53 remaining in the third period held up after video review, and the Knights rallied to edge Chicago 4-3 on Thursday.

“Give credit to Chicago. They were ready to play, and they worked hard and battled hard,” Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. “We weren’t as good, but again, we found a way to win, and hopefully that’s a sign of a good team, because we played good hockey lately, and we did that quite a few times last year also.”

Tuch and Jonathan Marchessault scored 12 seconds apart to help the Knights win for the seventh time in their past eight games and move into a tie for third place in the Pacific Division with San Jose.

Reilly Smith added a goal and two assists, and Max Pacioretty had two assists in his return to the lineup after missing Tuesday’s game against Washington.

The Knights improved to 5-0 all-time against Chicago.

“We definitely have some mojo, I think,” Marchessault said. “We’re just working hard.”

Marchessault tied the score at 3-3 with a wrist shot from the left wing with 12:05 remaining. Smith set up the chance with a spin move around Chicago’s Brandon Saad in the neutral zone before making a quick pass to Marchessault.

“There wasn’t a lot of space,” Smith said. “I was actually telling (Marchessault) just to chip it in. I didn’t see much other option there, so I just tried to buy some time and Marchy made a great shot.”

Tuch tallied the winner moments later, as he intercepted a pass by Chicago’s Brent Seabrook and made a move around the defenseman before losing the puck.

Pacioretty gained possession in front of the net and sent a pass back to Tuch, who notched his ninth goal.

Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton challenged that Pacioretty interfered with goaltender Corey Crawford, but video replay officials ruled Chicago’s Brandon Manning caused Pacioretty to contact Crawford before the puck crossed the goal line.

“I thought it was (a goal), and then I saw the replay and then I was like, ‘Ah, I don’t know what’s going to happen,’ ” Tuch said. “But you know what? They called it a goal and the thing about it after that, you’re just really happy.”

Chicago, which lost its sixth straight game, had gone ahead 3-2 with 12:46 left to play when Artem Anisimov intercepted a pass by Knights defenseman Nick Holden and beat Marc-Andre Fleury on a breakaway.

The Blackhawks tied the game in the second period on goals by Jonathan Toews and Dylan Strome before the Knights appeared to take the lead with 2:15 remaining in the second.

Oscar Lindberg put in a rebound before teammate Tomas Nosek and Chicago’s Andreas Martinsen crashed into Crawford. Dwyer announced that the puck crossed the line before the net was dislodged, but then announced — to the ire of Knights fans — there was goaltender interference.

Smith showed off his hands 1:28 into the game as he put the Knights on top with a magnificent individual effort.

Pacioretty’s shot was stopped. Smith collected the rebound, flipped the puck over Crawford’s body and dived across the crease to knock in his fifth goal.

Engelland gave the Knights a 2-0 advantage at 8:14 of the first when his wrist shot sailed past Crawford, who appeared to be screened by Toews and slammed down his stick in frustration.

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Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.