Jack Eichel’s two goals lead Golden Knights past Flames

Kaedan Korczak also scored for the Golden Knights (2-0-2) and Tomas Hertl added an empty-net goal with seven seconds left.

Starting goalie Adin Hill stopped eight of 10 shots in the first period and didn’t return for the second because of a lower-body injury. Akira Schmid turned away all 19 shots he faced in relief.

Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman scored for the Flames (1-3-0). Dustin Wolf made 26 saves in the loss. 

Eichel scored his second of the game at 6:38 of the third period. He drove by Flames defenceman Daniil Miromanov to shovel the puck past Wolf.

Korczak pulled the visitors even at 4:11 of third period when he stepped into a shot that beat Wolf stick side. 

Eichel halved a two-goal deficit midway through the second period when he poked his own rebound past Wolf.

Coleman made it 2-0 for the Flames at 12:10 of the opening period when he gained the puck off a heavy Calgary forecheck and wired the puck by Hill’s glove.

Backlund and Flames defenceman Mackenzie Weegar combined on a give-and-go on the first goal of the game at 7:32. Weegar faked a shot and dished to Backlund, who snapped a sharp-angled shot past Hill.

Golden Knights: Vegas has been outscored 5-1 in first periods so far this season. Mitch Marner is still looking for his first goal as a Golden Knight, although he recorded his third and fourth assists on Tuesday.

Flames: The Flames have been outscored 6-2 in third periods to start this season. Jonathan Huberdeau participated in the optional pre-game skate, but wasn’t in the game lineup. The highest-paid player on the Flames, at a cap hit of US$10.5 million, hasn’t played since he was injured in the pre-season. Miromanov made his season debut Tuesday with Weegar as his defensive partner.

Vegas exploited a sagging Calgary defence with two goals in a span of two minutes, 27 seconds early in the third period.

Eichel has four goals and five assists, and Mark Stone has six assists in four games to start the season.

Golden Knights: Host the Boston Bruins on Thursday.

Flames: Travel to Salt Lake City on Wednesday to face the Utah Mammoth in their home opener.

Source link