In a thrilling matchup in San Jose, the Vegas Golden Knights triumphed over the San Jose Sharks with a final score of 6-3, showcasing their resilience and offensive prowess in the third period. Brayden McNabb and Jack Eichel were instrumental in this victory, each netting critical short-handed goals within seconds of one another, turning the tide in favor of the Golden Knights.
Vegas entered the third period trailing 3-2, but their quick response changed the game dynamics. McNabb scored the equalizer just over a minute into the period, followed by Eichel's go-ahead goal 23 seconds later. The Golden Knights capitalized on this momentum, scoring four unanswered goals in the final frame. Apart from McNabb and Eichel, Mark Stone, Brett Howden, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Noah Hanifin also contributed to the scoring, solidifying their team's dominance.
On the other side, the Sharks had a strong start, with rookie sensation Will Smith contributing a goal and an assist. Tyler Toffoli also made his mark with a goal, bringing his season total to 14. Despite their efforts, including a late second-period goal that broke a 2-all tie, San Jose could not maintain their lead in the face of Vegas's relentless attack. Goalies Adin Hill and Alexandar Georgiev recorded 22 and 30 saves, respectively, but it was not enough to stop the Golden Knights' surge.
