The Vegas Golden Knights (37-18-6) continued their dominance on home ice with a commanding 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs (38-21-3) on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena.
Vegas wasted no time setting the tone, as Tomas Hertl pounced on a rebound just 4:33 into the game to open the scoring. Brett Howden followed with a slick backhand finish, and Jack Eichel capped off a dominant first period with a power-play goal, putting the Golden Knights up 3-0.
Seventeen seconds into the second period, Noah Hanifin extended the lead to 4-0 with a blistering one-timer off a no-look pass from Eichel. Tanner Pearson added another goal before the end of the frame, effectively sealing the game.
Toronto got on the board with a power-play goal from Auston Matthews late in the second period, and Mitch Marner added a third-period tally, but it was too little, too late.
Vegas goaltender Adin Hill was solid in net, stopping 29-of-31 shots to secure the win.
Hanifin’s goal extended his impressive streak, marking his fourth straight game with a point. The Boston native has quietly become an offensive force from the blue line, tallying two goals and five assists in his last four games—and nearly a third of his season’s assists (22) have come in the last six contests.
His second-period goal showcased his growing confidence. Eichel, battling along the boards, delivered a no-look feed right into Hanifin’s wheelhouse, and the defenseman didn’t hesitate, blasting it past Anthony Stolarz. The chemistry between the two was on full display, with Eichel making highlight-reel plays reminiscent of an NHL version of Patrick Mahomes.
The Golden Knights will celebrate Women’s History Knight on Friday as they host the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7 p.m. PT at T-Mobile Arena.
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