3 takeaways: Knights win 3rd straight to start season — PHOTOS
The Golden Knights were due for a low-scoring affair after lighting the lamp a ton in the first two games.
They got it, and then delivered with the game in the balance.
Center Tomas Hertl broke a tie early in the third period with a power-play goal, and the Knights shut down the Anaheim Ducks for a 3-1 win Sunday at T-Mobile Arena.
Hertl scored his first goal of the season with a sharp one-timer in front at 5:18 of the third period to give the Knights a 2-1 lead.
Left wing Pavel Dorofeyev put the game away with 5:51 remaining with his first goal of the season.
Right wing Keegan Kolesar had two assists, and goaltender Ilya Samsonov made 22 saves in his debut with the Knights in their third straight win to begin the season.
“I can’t remember the last time I was 3-0,” Hertl said. “It feels great.”
The Knights spent their first two games of the season needing goals after falling behind early. Left wing Brett Howden ensured that wouldn’t be the case this time.
Howden, who has been noticeably good to begin the season, opened the scoring at 6:17 of the first period on a putback in front to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.
“When I play simple and try to do the right things and not cheat the game, I find it kind of works out,” Howden said.
It was the first time in three games the Knights scored the game’s first goal. The Knights, though scoring 12 goals in the first two games, needed a response in both games and got those answers from their top line.
But the Knights’ top group had its first glaring mistake in three games. Left wing Ivan Barbashev turned it over at the offensive blue line, and Ducks right wing Troy Terry scored on a breakaway at 11:49 of the first to tie the game.
The Ducks (1-1-0) were playing the second night of a back-to-back but found their second wind after that goal. One night after goaltender Lukas Dostal posted a 30-save shutout in San Jose, Anaheim’s defense was strong in the first period, holding the Knights to six shots.
The script flipped in the second period with the Knights holding an 18-5 edge in shots, but no goals to show for it despite two power-play opportunities.
The most dangerous chance on the Knights’ man advantage was a three-on-one short-handed chance by the Ducks, but Anaheim center Ryan Strome hit the crossbar with 1:36 remaining in the period.
The Knights head into their first road trip of the season with three straight victories. Awaiting them at the beginning is a potential matchup with former goaltender Logan Thompson and the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
“We’re leaving home with three wins, and being in this locker room has been so much fun,” Hertl said. “I’m enjoying every minute of it.”
Here are three takeaways from the win:
1. Samsonov not busy
Numbers will say the Ducks had the edge in offensive possession numbers, but it wasn’t a hectic night for Samsonov.
The Ducks had a 14-11 edge in high-danger chances at five-on-five and a 58-49 edge in shot attempts, but Samsonov didn’t look entirely out of place.
The Russian netminder had trouble tracking pucks, especially after rebounds, but didn’t allow a bad goal that changed the course of the game. Samsonov’s best save came at 3:48 of the second when he stopped forward Trevor Zegras on a breakaway.
2. Fourth line good again
Kolesar will have the numbers with his two assists, but the line once again had a strong outing.
Left wing Tanner Pearson and center Cole Schwindt provided some of the Knights’ best looks at five-on-five for most of the game.
Pearson missed the net on one attempt, but his speed and forechecking allowed the line to get opportunities. Schwindt, playing in his second game with the Knights, showed off his powerful shot on two occasions. One of them, a one-timer from the slot, was stopped by goaltender James Reimer in the second period.
3. Theodore hits 500
Defenseman Shea Theodore didn’t get on the score sheet in his 500th NHL game. You can’t fault him for trying.
Theodore had 11 shot attempts, two of them on target, in 23:10 of action. Theodore leads all Knights defensemen with five points to begin the season.
Theodore has looked great playing to the left of Alex Pietrangelo, with coach Bruce Cassidy saying they’re as in sync as anyone defensively. Offensively, Theodore made a big impact once again.
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.