The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Ottawa Senators 2-1 in a hard-fought battle on Sunday. The Golden Knights had to battle to stay in the game and got some help from Robin Lehner.
Jack Eichel ripped home the game winner on the power play with 5.2 seconds left in regulation. The power play had been on an 0-17 stretch before the game-winning wrist shot from the star center.
JACK EICHEL FOR THE WIN! 🃏 pic.twitter.com/NjhjqohmsA
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 7, 2022
Lehner was in net against the Sens and was busy early as the Golden Knights gave up 15 shots in the first period. The Golden Knights hadn’t allowed more than ten-shots in the first period at home in 19-straight opening periods.
Lehner compiled a great night with 1.22 goals saved above expected and kept the Golden Knights in the game during a dreadful first half of the third period as the Sens outshot Vegas 13-2. Lehner made 39 saves on 40 shots in the contest.
Vegas was also out to a hot start as well as the Golden Knights recorded 17 shots in the first period and were just shy of an expected goal at 0.98 in the first. In the first, Vegas had four high-danger chances compared to the Senators two, but neither team were able to get on the board.
Early in the second, Jonathan Marchessault got on the board on a breakaway and broke the scoreless tie.
RSVP to the Marchy party below ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/GipShiv5uz
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 7, 2022
Shortly after, Ottawa capitalized on a power play. Lehner made the original stop on Brady Tkachuk, but the puck got by as he went to cover for the whistle.
Poked home the rebound❗️#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/ITygfv6Zl4
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 7, 2022
Late in the period, the Golden Knights got a power play opportunity but were unable to capitalize and the goalless drought on the man-advantage bubbled to 17.
Early in the third period, Lehner continued to add to his solid night with a big-time glove save on Zach Sanford. Vegas had a dreadful third until the game-winner, as the Senators generated 1.09 expected goals in the period compared to the Knights 0.35.
Eichel scored the game winner on the power play and the Golden Knights got a crucial two-points before a five-game road trip that will start Tuesday in Philadelphia.
Stats via Natural Stat Trick unless otherwise noted.