Golden Knights keep sizzling, edge slumping Jets

Brett Howden and Ivan Barbashev each scored twice as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the visiting Winnipeg Jets 4-3 on Friday night.

Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev each had two assists, and William Karlsson and Shea Theodore each added a helper. Adin Hill made 22 stops in net for Vegas, which has won four of its past five games.

Cole Perfetti scored twice for the Jets, both assisted by Josh Morrissey. Neal Pionk also scored in the loss. Nikolaj Ehlers, Vladislav Namestnikov, Haydn Fleury, and Kyle Connor contributed assists. Eric Comrie made 26 saves for Winnipeg, which has lost three of four.

The Jets opened the scoring 6:57 into the first period when Morrissey’s shot from the top of the circle was redirected by Perfetti, who ended his 11-game goalless streak.

With 1:47 left in the period, Vegas tied it at 1-1. A turnover by Morgan Barron in the Jets’ zone allowed Howden to grab the puck, race up ice, blow past Logan Stanley, and beat Comrie on a breakaway.

Vegas took the lead with 16 seconds left in the first when Barbashev capitalized on a loose rebound in front, putting his team ahead 2-1.

Ehlers left the game in the second period after falling awkwardly following a hit to Dorofeyev along Winnipeg’s bench. He did not return.

Perfetti scored his second of the game with 5:32 left in the second, tying it at 2-2. Morrissey’s long bank shot caromed off Hill’s pads to Perfetti, who drove it home.

Barbashev scored his second of the game 4:43 into the third period, giving Vegas a 3-2 lead. Eichel’s backhand pass in the slot set him up for a shot that beat Comrie.

The Jets responded when Pionk tied the score at 3-3 with 11:05 left.

The Golden Knights struck again with 4:05 left to take a 4-3 lead. Howden found the open net after Karlsson fed him a perfect pass, which he batted across the goal line.

Winnipeg suffered its first loss of the season when scoring first.

–Field Level Media