Jack Eichel (2 goals) leads Golden Knights past Blue Jackets

Field Level Media|published: Sun 24th March, 01:23 2024

Mar 23, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud (2) breaks up a scoring attempt during the first period at T-Mobile Arena. credits: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Jack Eichel scored two goals for the Vegas Golden Knights in a 4-2 win against the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

Ivan Barbashev and Pavel Dorofeyev also scored and Adin Hill stopped 12 of 13 shots before an apparent injury caused him to depart early in the third period.

Logan Thompson entered and stopped eight of nine shots for the Golden Knights (38-25-7, 83 points), who have won five of seven to maintain a four-point lead over the St. Louis Blues for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

The defending Stanley Cup Champions open a four-game road trip in St. Louis on Monday.

Erik Gudbranson and Carson Meyer scored and Daniil Tarasov made 43 saves for the Blue Jackets (23-36-12, 58 points), who have lost eight of nine.

Barbashev tied it 1-1 at 3:31 of the second when he took a wrist shot from the top of the right circle. Tarasov made the save, but the rebound came into the high slot, and Barbashev shot it into the net.

A few seconds after Columbus forward Kirill Marchenko hit the post, Eichel scored on another rebound to give Vegas a 2-1 lead at 4:57. It was the 500th point of Eichel's NHL career.

Dorofeyev made it 3-1 at 3:03 of the third period when he faked a shot and then skated around Tarasov before sweeping the puck into the open net.

Eichel scored again on a power play with 2:42 left in the game for a 4-1 lead.

Meyer scored from in close with 12 seconds left to make it 4-2.

The Golden Knights outshot Columbus 15-1 the first 10 minutes of the second period and 22-3 throughout the period.

Columbus scored on its first shot on goal when Gudbranson took a wrist shot from just in front of the blue line that glanced off Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb and into the net for a 1-0 lead at 4:32 of the first period.

The goal gave Gudbranson his first 20-point season in his 13-year NHL career, and defenseman Zach Werenski assisted on the goal to give him sole possession of second place on the team's all-time assist list (205).

—Field Level Media

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