Golden Knights 6-3 Sharks (December 27, 2024) Game Recap

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Brayden McNabb and Jack Eichel scored crucial shorthanded goals just seconds apart in the third period and Alex Pietrangelo had three assists as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the San Jose Sharks 6-3 on Friday night.

Noah Hanifin, Mark Stone, Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden each scored a goal for the Golden Knights, who scored four goals in the third period.

The Sharks were led by rookie Will Smith, who had a goal and an assist. Shakir Mukhamadullin and Tyler Toffoli also scored.

San Jose led 3-2 early in the third period and had a power play, but Vegas quickly seized the momentum as McNabb tied the game at 1:03 and Eichel scored the go-ahead goal 23 seconds later.

The Sharks broke a 2-1 tie late in the second period when Toffoli scored his team-leading 14th goal with a shot from behind the net. Toffoli’s shot bounced off the back of Vegas defenseman Nicolas Hague’s skate and skidded past goalie Adin Hill.

Hill made 22 saves and Alexandar Georgiev stopped 30 shots for San Jose.

Takeaways

Vegas took over in the third period for its best fifth straight win and ninth in 10 games.

San Jose was able to hold its own against one of the top teams in the NHL for a while, but then collapsed late. The resurgent Sharks have lost five games in a row, eight of their last nine and 12 of 14.

Key moment

The Sharks played a pregame video tribute to Tomas Hertl’s return to San Jose, the first time since the team traded the two-time All-Star forward to Las Vegas this year. Hertl played parts of 11 seasons in San Jose after the Sharks selected him 17th overall in the 2012 draft. He helped lead the team to the final round of the 2019 Western Conference playoffs.

Key statistics

Mukhamadullin’s first NHL goal was his second career point. The 22-year-old defender, who Timo Meier acquired from New Jersey last year, played his ninth game.

Next

Vegas hosts Calgary on Sunday night. San Jose hosts the Flames on Saturday night.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl