In Las Vegas, the Golden Knights’ Mark Stone hit for a power play goal, and added an a shorthanded marker in a 5-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday night. 
That was the first time in franchise history for the feat.
“It would have been nice to capitalize probably earlier in the game. I was stressing a little bit in between periods, feeling I should have had 10,” said Stone. “Obviously sitting in here 1-1 after the second, we felt like we controlled most of the play. You can doubt yourself. We were ready to go, and I capitalized on key chances.”
Logan Thompson made 21 saves in the Vegas win.
The Golden Knights improved to 23-11-1.
Vegas scored four times in the third period to break open what had been a tight match.
“Going into the third again, we had some opportunities to score where we didn’t finish on. We didn’t allow that to change the way we play,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We scored some goals going to the net. We had two deflection goals, which is good, which means pucks to the net. Obviously, a nice play on the shortie. … Different types of goals. Good for the guys for sticking with it and not losing their discipline.”
The Coyotes dropped to 10-16-5.
Tight game or not, the third period effort was lacking from Arizona.
“Stupidity, mistakes, turnovers, lack of effort on the backcheck. That’s too bad because we played a good game,” Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny said. “We did a lot of good things against a really good team. We’re right there. We’re on goal, one shot away, and you could not stay with it.”
After a scoreless first period, Vegas took a 1-0 lead on a marker from Daniil Miromanov.
“He started shooting a little more tonight. Then it translates on the power play,” Cassidy said. “We want him to shoot on the power play if it’s the open shot. That’s his decision. … When it’s your turn to shoot, shoot. He has an NHL shot. He has NHL puck skills.”
The Coyotes replied with a goal from Juuso Valimaki, for a 1-1 tie.
Stone’s power play goal gave Vegas a 2-1 in the third, and William Carrier hit for a strike for a 3-1 advantage.
“We were joking on the bench,” Stone said. “[Carrier] was yelling at me for mid-lane driving. I said, ‘I’m not scoring, so I’ll give you a try.’ He made a perfect shot. I don’t think any goalie in the League is going to stop that one. He’s provided a spark for us.”
After the Coyotes’ Christian Fischer pulled them to within 3-2, Stone hit for his shorthanded goal for a 4-2 lad.
“We were feeling it. We kept pushing, kept pushing,” Vegas’ Chandler Stephenson said. “Then one goes in. Then two, three. We were just feeling good after the second and third one.”
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Vegas’ Michael Amadio scored at 17″19 for the 5-2 final.
“I thought [Amadio] played well tonight,” Cassidy said. “He moved up. Made some plays on that [first] line. Had some good looks from the slot. Gets a deflection going to the net late in the game. Hopefully that springboards him up a little bit too.”
Karel Vejmelka made 29 saves in the loss.
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