LAS VEGAS — Jonathan Marchessault and Alex Tuch scored 12 seconds apart in the third period to send the surging Vegas Golden Knights past the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 on Thursday night.
Vegas won for the seventh time in eight games and moved into a third-place tie with San Jose in the Pacific Division with 33 points. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, dropped their sixth straight and have been outscored 30-17 during the skid.
After allowing the Blackhawks to score three consecutive goals for a 3-2 lead in the third, the defending Western Conference champions responded. Marchessault fired a shot past goalie Corey Crawford to tie the game, and 12 seconds later it was Tuch punching one in to put Vegas back in front.
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford blocks a shot by Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith (AP Photo/John Locher)
Reilly Smith and Deryk Engelland also scored for the Golden Knights. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 32 shots.
Jonathan Toews, Dylan Strome and Artem Anisimov scored for Chicago. Crawford made 32 saves
The Golden Knights continued to dominate with their penalty kill, as they’ve gone seven games without allowing a power-play goal. Since Nov. 23, Vegas has stopped 20 consecutive power-play opportunities by opponents, including four against Chicago.
Vegas took an early lead when Smith tipped the puck to himself over Crawford, then dove across the crease while shooting it into the net.
Engelland scored for the first time this season when he fired a wrist shot from the point through traffic and over Crawford’s glove.
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith and center Jonathan Marchessault celebrate after defenseman Deryk Engelland (AP Photo/John Locher)
Toews inched closer to his 700th career point when he slammed a carom off the end boards past Fluery and cut Vegas’ lead in half four minutes into the second.
Later in the period it was Strome gathering Alex DeBrincat’s rebound and firing a shot from a wicked angle to tie it at 2.
Anisimov gave Chicago its third straight goal when he streaked in to intercept Nick Holden’s pass and beat Fleury on a breakaway with a backhand.
NOTES: Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis was in attendance. … Chicago Cubs slugger and Las Vegas native Kris Bryant was also in the sellout crowd. … William Karlsson’s assist on Engelland’s goal was the 100th point with the Golden Knights. … Toews is two points shy of 700. … The 18,494 in attendance marked the second-largest crowd in franchise history.
UP NEXT
Blackhawks: Host the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.
Golden Knights: Visit the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
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W.G. Ramirez, The Associated Press
