LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tanner Laczynski tallied his inaugural goal of the season, with Adin Hill turning away 23 shots as the Vegas Golden Knights secured a 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night. The Golden Knights, boasting a league-leading 33 points, have surged to a 16-3-1 record since Nov. 21, propelling them to the pinnacle of the NHL standings with 57 points and surpassing the Winnipeg Jets, who fell to the Detroit Red Wings.
Mark Stone and Jack Eichel contributed goals for Vegas, with Tanner Pearson chipping in two assists. Jason Zucker found the back of the net for Buffalo, while James Reimer put up a solid performance with 30 saves. The Sabres concluded a four-game road trip on a sour note, suffering their third consecutive loss.
Key Takeaways
Sabres: Despite Buffalo’s previous success against Vegas with a three-game winning streak, the Golden Knights managed to reverse the trend. In their three prior encounters, the Sabres had outscored Vegas 15-6.
Golden Knights: Vegas has showcased a stingy defense during their impressive 20-game run since Nov. 21, conceding a league-low average of 2.20 goals per game. In 14 of those games, the Knights have limited their opponents to two goals or fewer.
Key Moment
Early in the third period, as the Sabres exhibited renewed vigor, Rasmus Dahlin raced in from the right flank and unleashed a high wrist shot. Hill’s lightning-quick glove hand snatched the puck out of the air, halting Buffalo’s momentum in its tracks.
Key Stat
Mark Stone notched his 600th career point with his goal. As per the NHL, Stone became the eighth-fastest active Canadian player to achieve this milestone.
Up Next
The Sabres are set to host the Washington Capitals on Monday night, while the Golden Knights will travel to face the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.
