Jack Eichel delivered a standout performance with two goals, leading the Vegas Golden Knights to a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on March 15, 2024. Eichel’s tiebreaking goal early in the third period propelled the Golden Knights to their first regulation win of the season, improving their record to 2-0-2.
The match started off in favor of the Flames, who built a 2-0 lead after the first period. Mikael Backlund opened the scoring at 7:32, finishing a give-and-go play with MacKenzie Weegar. Blake Coleman extended the Flames’ lead at 12:10, firing a shot past Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill, who faced ten shots in the opening frame.
Vegas responded in the second period, with Eichel finding the net at 10:00, scoring on his own rebound. This goal marked the beginning of the Golden Knights’ comeback. Despite being outshot 10-8 in the first period, the team demonstrated resilience that would define the remainder of the game.
Adin Hill had to leave the game due to a lower-body injury after taking a shot from Matt Coronato to the mask and subsequently falling awkwardly. His replacement, Akira Schmid, stepped up magnificently, stopping all 19 shots he faced in his second appearance this season.
Golden Knights Rally in the Third Period
The third period saw a significant shift in momentum as the Golden Knights scored twice within a span of just 2:27 to take their first lead of the night. Kaedan Korczak tied the game at 4:11, skillfully redirecting a loose puck past Flames goalie Dustin Wolf for his first goal of the season. Shortly thereafter, Eichel took control, powering past Flames defenseman Daniil Miromanov to score his second goal, making it 3-2 for Vegas.
Tomas Hertl capped off the scoring with an empty-net goal with just seven seconds remaining, solidifying the Golden Knights’ win. The victory marks a crucial turnaround for Vegas, who had struggled to find their footing in the early part of the season.
The Flames, on the other hand, have now dropped three consecutive games. Wolf made 26 saves but faced a relentless attack from the Golden Knights in the latter stages of the match.
Brett Howden was absent from the game due to a lower-body injury, with Cole Reinhardt stepping into the lineup as his replacement. The Golden Knights will look to build on this momentum as they continue their season, while the Flames will need to regroup and address their recent struggles.
As the season progresses, Eichel’s performance stands as a pivotal moment for the Golden Knights, showcasing their potential to compete at a high level.
