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For the third time in as many games, the Vegas Golden Knights found themselves in the win column after a, 3-2, come-from-behind victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday night inside the T-Mobile Arena.
“It’s a good one,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We were going down that path after the second period of another shutout which has happened a lot to us. There were some games we played well but others that we could’ve done a better job at creating more offense. Usually that requires an inside presence and that’s how we got back into the game.”
Vegas now holds a 27-14-5 record on the season with 59 points in the Pacific Division, remaining seven points behind the Vancouver Canucks for the top spot.
The Golden Knights will head east for a four-game road trip beginning Monday, Jan. 22 as they get set to face off with the New Jersey Devils. Puck drop is set for 4 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.
After two periods of play, the Golden Knights had yet to register a goal in Saturday’s game while allowing two goals on the other end. Heading into the third period, Vegas trailed by a pair and even Cassidy felt it could be another one of those games where Vegas can’t get it going on offense.
That narrative changed in about a four and a half minute span of the third period where the Golden Knights ripped off three straight goals to make it a 3-2 game and grab their first lead of the game.
One of the bigger storylines from this one came with 10:20 to go and the game tied at two. Center Brendan Brisson lit the lamp for the first time in his NHL career and it just so happened to be the game-winning goal.
“The arena was super loud and it was a great feeling to hear your name for the first time,” Brisson said. “It wasn’t preseason so it was a special feeling.”
Right-winger Jonathan Marchessault lit the lamp for the third time in as many games, scoring his 20th goal of the season. Left-winger Pavel Dorofeyev also knocked in his sixth goal of the year when he tied the game at two apiece with 13:08 to play.
“Marchy seemed to get us going and everybody started pressing after that,” center Chandler Stephenson said. “We kind of just took over the game it felt like.”
“I didn’t know a lot about Pav last year in training camp,” Cassidy said. “I thought he was good for us. That’s what I told [VGK General Manager Kelly McCrimmon] that this kid is a pretty good player. He always finds a way to get some opportunities and then at the other end of the ice, he’s got a good sense for where to be on the ice in all situations.
“For him, it was just a matter of getting stronger.”
Dorofeyev finished Saturday’s game with the goal scored to go along with four shots and a hit in just over 16 minutes of ice time.
Center Ivan Barbashev led the way in points on Saturday for the Golden Knights, grabbing two assists when he assisted on Marchessault and Brisson’s goals.
Another big area that Cassidy has mentioned he wanted his group to clean up is staying out of the penalty box. On Saturday, the Golden Knights only committed one two-minute penalty compared to four two-minute penalties for the Penguins.
For the eighth time in nine games, goaltender Logan Thompson was given the nod in net for the Golden Knights. He finished the game making 23 saves on 25 shots faced for a final save percentage of .920 in what was his fifth win in the last six games.
Thompson ranks inside the top ten for his record this season to go along with ranking inside the top 20 in both goals allowed average and save percentage.