The Vegas Golden Knights took command early in their game against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night, with Mark Stone contributing one goal and two assists to help secure a 4-1 victory. Vegas quickly capitalized on four points from their first six shots, building momentum as they enter the Olympic break on a winning streak after a tough stretch where they lost seven of eight matches. Meanwhile, the Kings have struggled recently, dropping four of their last five games.
Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeev each recorded a goal and an assist, while Mitch Marner notched his 799th career point. Ivan Barbashev contributed two assists, extending his point streak to five games, although his goal streak halted at four. Eichel also pushed his point streak to four games and reached 200 assists with the Golden Knights.
Goalie Adin Hill made 32 saves, marking his 100th career win, the first since his 34-save effort against Buffalo on March 15, 2025. For the Kings, Trevor Moore scored and goalie Anton Forsberg stopped 18 shots; Adrian Kempe’s point streak ended at eight.
Despite taking six penalties, including a mutual fighting major, the Golden Knights maintained their composure and avoided conceding on the power play, as Los Angeles went 0-for-5 with the man advantage. Vegas’ last six-penalty game was a similar 4-1 win against Utah on November 20. Late in the first period, Kings forward Andrei Kuzmenko left the ice after getting hit in the face by a puck but returned shortly after. Newly acquired Artemi Panarin was not in the Kings’ lineup as anticipated, having missed around a week of practice and games despite his strong performance in New York.
Looking ahead, the Kings will host the Golden Knights on February 25th, with Vegas traveling to Los Angeles for a rematch the same day.
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Fan Take: Although this is hockey news, basketball fans can appreciate how momentum and team chemistry play crucial roles in any sport’s success. Vegas’s recent turnaround shows how resilience and smart playmaking invigorate a team, concepts vital for basketball squads aiming to rise in their standings.
