The Golden Knights' struggling offense came to life on Thursday night in Vegas' 5-3 road win over the Ottawa Senators.
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare recorded a goal and an assist for Vegas, while Colin Miller and Alex Tuch each notched two assists as the Golden Knights reached the five-goal plateau for the first time this season. Vegas entered the game ranked third to last in the league in goals scored and second to last in shot percentage.
The Golden Knights also had a league-low six power-play goals before they scored twice with the man advantage in the first period. Jonathan Marchessault scored his team-leading seventh goal at the 15:26 mark, and Shea Theodore's shot from just inside the blue line found the net with 20 seconds remaining in the period.
Nick Holden added an even-strength goal for a 3-0 Vegas lead at 17:21 of the second period. It was Holden's first of the season and first as a member of the Golden Knights after signing with the team in the offseason.
Just 29 seconds after Holden's goal, however, the Senators answered on Matt Duchene's fifth score of the season. Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury poked the puck away from Thomas Chabot as the defenseman drove toward the net, but the puck went right to Duchene, who was trailing on the play.
Ottawa equalized the game with two goals within a 64-second stretch in the third period. A Tomas Nosek turnover in front of his own net allowed Ryan Dzingel to take the puck away and score at the 6:57 mark, while a scramble at the side of the net sent the puck out to Chabot at 8:01 to capitalize on a wide-open cage.
Barely a minute after Chabot's goal, the Golden Knights regained the lead for good when William Carrier made a nice move to evade a defender 9:16 into the period.
Carrier also played a large role in the game's controversial final goal, as he was seemingly tangled up with Senators goalie Craig Anderson while Bellemare shot the puck into the net. Ottawa coach Guy Boucher argued goaltender interference, though the call stood after a video review.
The Golden Knights earned their third win in nine away games this season. The Senators fell to 5-3-2 at home.
--Field Level Media
Vegas | Ottawa | |
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare 2 | Points | Thomas Chabot 2 |
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare 1 | Goals | Thomas Chabot 1 |
Colin Miller 2 | Assists | Thomas Chabot 1 |
Jonathan Marchessault 1 | Power Play Goals | N/A |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Marc-Andre Fleury .900 | Save Percentage | Craig Anderson .881 |
Marc-Andre Fleury 27 | Saves | Craig Anderson 37 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Vegas | 42 | 5 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 9 | 35 |
Ottawa | 30 | 3 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 9 | 35 |