LAS VEGAS (AP) — Brandon Saad scored off a rebound from the left circle 18 seconds into the third period to put Vegas ahead for good and the Golden Knights extended their winning streak to three games with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.
Vegas took sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division, moving two points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers. The Canucks' three-game winning streak ended.
It was Saad's second goal in five games . He had three goals in 29 games with the St. Louis Blues.
Ivan Barbashev scored his first goal since Dec. 14, Tomas Hertl also had a goal, and Brett Howden had two assists. Adin Hill made 32 saves.
Jake DeBrusk scored for Vancouver. Kevin Lankinen stopped 32 shots.
Canucks top-line centre Elias Pettersson played after suffering an undisclosed injury while playing for Sweden in the 4 Nations Face-Off, but was on the ice for just 9:32 and did not have a shot.
Quinn Hughes, who leads the Canucks with 59 points, missed his fifth game in a row with an undisclosed injury.
TAKEAWAYS
Canucks: Lankinen, who Friday with an average annual value worth $4.5 million, kept the Canucks in the game while facing 16 high-danger chances.
Golden Knights: Vegas is generating plenty of chances. This was the Golden Knights' fifth consecutive game with at least 34 shots on goal.
KEY MOMENT
Hill made four saves — two without his stick — on one possession midway through the third period to keep the Golden Knights ahead by a goal.
KEY STAT
DeBrusk's first-period goal was his 300th career point.
UP NEXT
Canucks: Visit the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday.
Golden Knights: Visit the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.
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