The Vegas Golden Knights won their eighth straight game in a 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.
The league-leading Knights became the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season.
Jonathan Marchessault had four points with two goals to lift the Knights to the win.
The Sharks drew first blood on a wraparound feed from Joel Kellman to Timo Meier 2 minutes into the game. Four minutes later, Marchessault deked Josuf Korenar on a pass from William Karlsson to tie the game. The game was physical, with a 10-man scrum in both the first and second period.
Eleven minutes into the second period, the Sharks scored again. Tomas Hertl slapped it past Marc-Andre Fleury at an odd angle to take the lead.
One minute later, a penalty was called on the Sharks, and the Knights pulled away. Mark Stone scored to tie the game on a wraparound. Toward the end of the period, Shea Theodore made a fantastic pass to Alex Tuch, who was wide open and put the puck in. At the end of the second, the Knights were up 3-2.
The third period was relatively quiet, with the Knights preventing the Sharks from coming back. One-shot by the Sharks trickled through the crease but somehow stayed out of the net. Shortly after, Marchessault scored again, roofing it topside to go up 4-2. After the Sharks pull the goalie, Mattias Janmark scored on an assist from Marchessault.
The Sharks have lost seven in a row, sitting at 6th in their division. The Knights have beaten the Sharks all seven times they have faced off this season.
The Knights sit atop the NHL in points with 68, being one of only five teams to win 30 games so far.
Up Next
Golden Knights @ Anaheim Ducks, Saturday, April 24, Honda Center
Minnesota Wild @ Sharks, Saturday, April 24, SAP Center
