VGK wins their third straight game against the Stars at home behind strong offense

The Vegas Golden Knights picked up their third straight win thanks to the offense getting their groove back against the Dallas Stars.

The Golden Knights defeated the Stars, 3-2, Friday, Dec. 6, at the T-Mobile Arena.

“I think we’ve played better in general,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “That’s been the attention to detail by the players. We were coming off the road trip a little fatigued and couldn’t practice. So we’ve been able to at least air it out and focus a little more at home.”

It was the first of three meetings between these two teams. The next two games will be on Jan 24 in Dallas, and again on Jan. 28 in The Fortress.

With the win, Vegas improved their record to 18-7-3 for 39 points and they are now 11-3-0 when playing at home this season. The Knights also increased their lead for first place in the Pacific Division to six points ahead of the second-place Los Angeles Kings.

After a grueling November schedule that saw them play most games on the road and numerous back-to-backs, the VGK will finally get a lengthy break with their next game being in six days.

As for that next game, the Golden Knights will travel across the border to take on the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, Dec. 12. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Canadian Life Centre.

“Hopefully, knock on wood, we stay healthy for a stretch here,” Cassidy said. “Then we can start building on that four-line mentality […] That will be a goal of ours moving forward.”

After struggling to score a bit in some of their recent games, the Vegas offense is starting to get back on track and now leading the team to a three-game winning streak.

Friday night’s game actually started with a close call early in the first period when a Dallas goal was then overturned after Cassidy used his coaches challenge.

“I didn’t like our first four or five minutes, we looked off, something wasn’t clicking,” Cassidy said. “We got a good call there, the video coordinator got the goal overturned. I think that really helped us, we settled in after that.”

Then late in the first period, center Tomas Hertl got the Knights on the board with his power play goal that saw them have a 5-3 advantage on the ice. Captain Mark Stone and defenseman Shea Theodore assisted on the goal. Friday also saw the return of Stone, who has been out with an injury since Nov. 6.

Hertl’s game-opening goal improved his season total to nine goals. Stone celebrated his return with his 16th assist of the season.

“I felt good going into it,” Stone said. “It was nice to get back into a familiar spot and just play.”

Cassidy also weighed in on the return of his on-ice captain.

“It’s good to see Mark back out there, you could tell his legs weren’t quite there,” Cassidy said. “I liked his game. There will be a little time to rest like the rest of the group, and he should be good to go on Thursday.”

After the Stars tied the game in the second period, VGK took back the lead when center Jack Eichel scored a power play goal with an assist from Theodore.

It was Eichel’s ninth goal of the season and he continues to lead the Golden Knights in points with 39 on the season. As for Theodore, he recorded his second straight multi-point game with his two assists in the game. He now has 19 assists this season.

“It’s never easy jumping right back in, but [Stone] is a guy that makes it look more seamless,” Theodore said. “It was good to have him out there.”

Just slightly over a minute later, center Nicolas Roy scored to give Vegas a commanding lead. With his unassisted goal, Roy increased his season total to six goals.

“Overall, we did a really good job,” Roy said. “We’re playing good defensively, and we had that good effort again tonight.”

Goalie Adin Hill got the start at goalie for the Knights after he sat out their last game to rest on the back end of a back-to-back.

“I think Hill’s game is just better,” Cassidy said. “I think he would be the first to tell you. He just looks better, more comfortable. We knew that would happen and here it is.”

Dallas scored a late goal with two minutes left in regulation to make things interesting and then they pulled their goalie and left an empty net in hopes to possibly send the game into overtime.

Those last two minutes were intense as the Stars shot multiple times at the goal but Hill stood strong and VGK was able to prevail and get the win.

At the final buzzer, Hill finished with 37 saves on 39 shots for a .950 save percentage, and increased his record to 12-4-2 on the season.