Golden Knights rally for overtime win against Blues

Two days after coach Pete DeBoer said the Golden Knights were too soft in front of their own net, the problem persisted.

They continued to start slowly in the first period and allowed more than four goals for the fourth time in the past five games.

But a dangerous power play can overcome all those issues.

Jonathan Marchessault scored his second goal with 2:30 left in overtime, and the Knights clawed back for a 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday at T-Mobile Arena.

“We definitely owe a couple wins to our fans. We know that,” Marchessault said. “Tonight was definitely up and down, but good teams find a way.”

Max Pacioretty had two first-period goals to help the Knights snap a four-game winless skid at home. Nate Schmidt and Alex Tuch also scored in the third period.

The Knights entered 3-for-26 on the power play under DeBoer and had one power play goal in their past five games but went 4-for-5 against the Blues.

In the overtime, Marchessault was hooked from behind by Jaden Schwartz on a breakaway to give the Knights a power play.

Midway through the man advantage, Mark Stone hustled to keep the puck in the zone at the point and left it for Marchessault, who fed Max Pacioretty at the right circle.

Pacioretty’s shot was stopped, but the rebound went right to Marchessault, who buried his 20th goal to help the Knights overcome a two-goal deficit for the second time against St. Louis.

The Knights rallied from three goals down to beat the Blues in overtime Jan. 4.

Zach Sanford scored four goals for St. Louis. The Blues were without defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who remained hospitalized in Southern California after suffering a cardiac emergency during Tuesday’s game at Anaheim.

“We know the position we’re in. We know we’re battling for our lives,” Pacioretty said. “Obviously had a tough game on the road (Tuesday), so it was an important game for our group to get back on it and make sure we’re giving ourselves a chance here.”

Here’s what stood out from the Knights’ win:

Tough break for Tuch

Just when it looked like Tuch was starting to find his groove, he sustained another injury.

Tuch skated down the left wing with speed and tried to fight off a defender but lost an edge and crashed into the boards behind the St. Louis net with 2:41 remaining.

He was unable to put any weight on his left leg and had to be helped off the ice to the locker room. DeBoer did not have an update on Tuch’s after the game.

Two minutes earlier, Tuch deflected in Jon Merrill’s shot from the point to tie the score at 5, his second goal since Dec. 31.

Ring rust

Goaltender Malcolm Subban found out Thursday morning he was starting with Marc-Andre Fleury feeling “under the weather.”

Subban allowed goals on three of the first six shots he faced, but didn’t get much help in front. One sequence in the second period summed up his evening.

Subban made a spectacular stop to deny Brayden Schenn on a 2-on-1 a little more than five minutes in, but Tuch coughed up the puck in his own zone. Subban was then forced to make a sliding save on Alex Pietrangelo moments before Sanford was left alone in front to complete his hat trick.

“It’s a tough circumstance,” DeBoer said. “I thought he came in and did a great job for us. Made key saves at the right time in a real strange game.”

Graveyard shift

DeBoer started the fourth line for the seventh straight game in search of an early spark, but it backfired against the Blues.

St. Louis opened with its top line, and Sanford scored 25 seconds into the first period when he one-timed a Ryan O’Reilly feed from the left faceoff circle.

The first-period struggles for the Knights’ fourth line continued, as it was unable to clear the zone before Mackenzie MacEachern tipped in St. Louis’ third goal at 15:47.

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