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Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Things were not looking good for the Vegas Golden Knights by the middle of the second period Saturday night.
The Washington Capitals, which won the Stanley Cup against the VGK in this building in 2018, had a 3-0 lead on Vegas on a mere nine shots and were on the power play.
And that’s when the game — and perhaps even the season — pivoted.
VGK fourth line center Nic Dowd, who was injured in a horrible-looking head collision with a Caps player along the boards in the first period, stripped a Washington player of the puck and then fired home a short-handed goal to put Vegas on the board for its first goal of the night.
Dowd, acquired in a trade from these same Washington Capitals only weeks ago, looked at his VGK bench and tried to fire up his new teammates.
And it helped. The Knights scored another shorthanded goal. This time it was recently acquired defenseman Rasmus Andersson, who took a pass from center Jack Eichel and deked out Caps goalie Logan Thompson.
Suddenly, Vegas’ two shorthanded goals in 25 seconds had cut the Washington lead to a single goal.
And Eichel took care of that, by beating Thompson only two minutes and 15 seconds later to deadlock the game at three apiece.
At the start of the third, Mitch Marner scored a power play goal to give Vegas a 4-3 lead.
But the Capitals tied the game later in the period and won in a shootout.
Just the facts: Washington Capitals 5 Vegas Golden Knights 4 in a shootout
VGK goal scorers: Nic Dowd (5), Rasmus Andersson (14), Jack Eichel (25) — all in second period; Mitch Marner (20) in thid period
VGK record: 32-26-16 for 80 points, third place in Pacific Division
Attendance: 17,922
Get in price on secondary market: Vividseats had ticket costs at $65 on the secondary market 90 minutes before the game.
VGK coach Bruce Cassidy postgame quotes: “We need a few more saves. . . We need that timely save. Cassidy saw things to build on tonight and “We have to tie it all together.”
VGK next game: Monday against the Vancouver Canucks.
NHL results tonight:
PSA