Golden Knights down Colorado, 3-2

In Denver, the Golden Knights’ Logan Thompson made 27 saves in a 3-2 win for Vegas over the Avalanche on Monday night.

Vegas’ Nicolas Royhit for a pair of pair in the middle frame to give the Knights a 3-1 lead headed to the third period.

“They got off to a good start, obviously, and we didn’t let that get to us. You’ve got to be careful that one doesn’t turn into two and three with a high-octane line like them,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “I think we checked them well after that. In the third period, we had a lull where they had a good push, but I thought our second period was the difference.”

Vegas improved to 26-12-2.

Nathan MacKinnon scored in his second game since coming off injury, his strike gave them a 1-0 lead in the first period.

“We lost the game in the second period,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “Too many turnovers. We didn’t manage the puck very well at all. We had some turnovers that were unforced coming out of our zone, which came back on us. Spent way too much time in the [defensive] zone because we didn’t manage the puck well going through the neutral zone at their offensive zone blue line. We kept feathering pucks into the middle of the ice. They’d pump them back up the ice and put us back in our zone again. Scoring chances show that.”

Colorado dropped to 19-14-3, the Avs have lost four straight.

After the Avalanche took the first period lead, Michael Amadio tied it for the Golden Knights, 1-1.

“Amadio goes up, he’s been real hot on [the top] line. He’s a guy that can add some offense, so that’s a nice find for us as well,” Cassidy said. “I think to sustain seasons when you have as many guys as we have out — a lot like the [Avalanche] right? — you need guys to get in there. (You) need your top guys to produce and other guys to sort of follow. Your leaders lead, your followers follow, and I think we’ve seen that with our group.”

Roy then scored his double in the second period.

“I think the line that went before, they did a good job of tilting the ice for us,” Roy said. “I think the other team was pretty tired there, so we’re kind of just trying to bring pucks to the net. And of course, I brought one to the net there, and [Kolesar] won a battle behind the net and made a nice play to me. So it was nice to get that one for sure.”

Mikko Rantanen scored his 25th goal of the campaign just past the midway point of the third period for the 3-2 final.