The Vegas Golden Knights finally turned their early-season chances into a rout Tuesday night. But a 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena came with concern after Victor Olofsson left in the third period following a boarding hit.
Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl each finished with four points as Vegas improved to 3-1-0 and completed a two-game road sweep. Olofsson scored twice before Ben Meyers drove him into the boards midway through the third. Officials gave Meyers a five-minute major and game misconduct.
Olofsson did not return.
“He left the game, so we don’t, we don’t love it, but that’s, uh, that’s hockey,” head coach Ryan Craig said. “I think, uh, you know, proud of our, our response, and, uh, you know, well, he’s getting evaluated now.”
Chances finally turn into goals
Vegas had generated opportunities through its first three games without consistently creating separation on the scoreboard. That changed in Seattle.
Olofsson opened the scoring at 13:02 of the first period, redirecting a Rasmus Andersson shot. Hertl also earned an assist. Hertl made it 2-0 on the power play less than three minutes later after Eichel and Mark Stone combined to set him up near the crease.
The Golden Knights then broke the game open in the second.
Stone scored short-handed 1:43 into the period after Brandon Montour broke his stick on a shot attempt. Eichel collected the puck and created a two-on-one before setting up Stone for a 3-0 lead.
The goal gave Stone 400 points as a Golden Knight, making him the third player in franchise history to reach the milestone. It was also Vegas’ first short-handed goal of the season.
Olofsson added his second goal at 13:07. Eichel then stole the puck and scored on a breakaway with 31 seconds remaining, sending Vegas into the third ahead 5-0.
“I think we finally got rewarded tonight too,” Stone said. “We didn’t, uh, you know, kind of bury the teams when we had our chances. And, uh, tonight we just kept pushing, capitalized on a few more chances, and, uh, that’s what led to the big lead.”
Eichel and Hertl take over
Eichel finished with a goal and three assists. Hertl scored twice and added two assists.
Hertl’s second goal came on the power play at 9:43 of the third. It restored a five-goal lead after Shane Wright had put Seattle on the board.
Vegas finished 2-for-5 on the power play and also scored short-handed. Carter Hart stopped 25 of 27 shots.
Eichel pointed to special teams as a major part of the win.
“Special teams is a big part of it,” Eichel said. “You know, power play came up big for us as well.”
The Golden Knights killed four of Seattle’s five power plays. Those included penalties early in both the first and second periods.
Olofsson hit changes the tone
The night shifted with 11:57 remaining when Meyers boarded Olofsson. Officials assessed Meyers a five-minute major and game misconduct.
Olofsson had already scored twice and entered the night among Vegas’ hottest players. Craig said after the game that Olofsson was still undergoing evaluation.
What followed added another layer to the win. Stone fought Montour later in the period, and the Golden Knights repeatedly described their response as an example of the group standing together.
“It’s a close team,” Stone said. “There’s a reason why we have success. It’s not just ’cause we have good players. It’s ’cause we, we stick together.”
Craig saw the same thing.
“It helps solidify the togetherness of our group,” Craig said. “Sticking together, standing up for each other, that’s just kind of the way the game went there, but good teams do that.”
Vegas scored six times on 28 shots and limited Seattle to two goals on 27 shots. The victory gave the Golden Knights consecutive road wins and their third victory in four games.
For Hertl, the performance represented Vegas’ best overall game of the young season.
“I think was the probably the best game of the season for us,” Hertl said.
Up next
The Golden Knights return home Thursday to face the Toronto Maple Leafs at T-Mobile Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. Pacific on Scripps.
Vegas enters at 3-1-0, while Toronto is 2-2-0. Eichel leads the Golden Knights with 10 points through four games.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
