LAS VEGAS – The Golden Knights returned home from what turned into a disappointing road trip and was fueled by Pavel Dorofeyev’s three-goal game to defeat the Boston Bruins, 5-1.
Brett Howden and Ivan Barbashev added goals for Vegas, while goaltender Adin Hill made 18 saves.
The Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights moved three points in front of the Edmonton Oilers, who lost in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets earlier in the night.
Hill was on the brink of his fifth shutout this season until Morgan Geekie scored for Boston with 2:11 left in the game.
Here are three takeaways from the game:
WILD BILL IS BACK: After missing two months with a lower-body injury, center William Karlsson returned to the lineup and was reunited with fellow original misfit Reilly Smith. It was the first time they’ve skated together since Smith was reacquired just before the deadline.
“I think I adjusted pretty quick,” said Karlsson, who had an assist and played 20 shifts for a total of 15:57 on the ice. “I didn’t feel like it was super fast out there, and it felt like it usually is.”
DOROFEYEV’S HATTIE: Dorofeyev’s hat trick was his second this season, as he also had one in a 5-3 loss at Nashville on Jan. 14. The 24-year-old, who was drafted 79th overall by the Knights in 2019, leads the team with 30 goals. He now has six goals in the team’s last five games.
“We always knew that he had the goal-scoring in him,” Karlsson said. “I think he’s just playing a solid 200-foot game, and then he adds all his scoring on top of that. And just mature, mature guy. He’s grown a lot this year.”
INJURY UPDATE: Late in the second period Jack Eichel stood tall to block a shot, but immediately limped to the bench and down the tunnel. Eichel would later return to the bench and played in the third period, but he was seen in the locker room after the game limping badly. Asked if he was okay, Eichel promptly replied: “Yep!” The team is off Friday, will hold a morning skate on Saturday and then plays back-to-back games against the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. Eichel will be someone to watch, in the event he may need to sit one of the two games, if not both.
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