The Vegas Golden Knights extended their winning streak to eight games despite a 2-1 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night. Down 1-0 late in the third period, Vegas tied the game at 15:49 with Pavel Dorofeev’s power-play goal. However, New Jersey’s goalie Jake Allen was outstanding in overtime, stopping all four Vegas shots—including one during a power play—and all three attempts in the shootout.
During the shootout, Dorofeev, Mark Stone, and Mitch Marner failed to score, though Marner’s attempt found the net only after hitting his skate. Jesper Bratt scored the decisive shootout goal for the Devils, who also got a regulation goal from Connor Brown. Vegas netminder Carter Hart made 32 saves, while Allen stopped 37 shots for New Jersey.
This victory improved New Jersey’s record to 9-6-0 against Western Conference teams. Meanwhile, Vegas has tied Anaheim Ducks for first place in the Pacific Division with 42 points. Coach Bruce Cassidy acknowledged the team’s struggle in finishing plays, especially in the shootout, but remained optimistic about future games ahead against Calgary.
Playing without star center Jack Eichel, the Knights still managed to capitalize on their power plays, with Dorofeev netting his ninth of the season, marking his third consecutive power-play goal. Vegas remains undefeated in regulation against Metropolitan Division teams, boasting an 7-0-4 record against them and earning 18 of their 22 points in those matchups. The teams split the regular season series, with Vegas winning 3-0 in New Jersey earlier in December.
Carter Hart’s strong performance continues to shine; since debuting on December 2, he remains unbeaten in regulation with a 3-0-2 record, a 2.26 goals-against average, and a .917 save percentage. Defenseman Brayden McNabb praised both goaltenders’ performances and expressed satisfaction with the point earned despite wanting a full two points. The Golden Knights are set to face Calgary in a two-game series in Western Canada starting Saturday.
Fan Take: This nail-biting shootout underscores how goalie performances can make or break crucial games, thrilling hockey fans with the drama they bring. For the sport, it highlights the intensity of competition in the NHL and the rising talent that keeps each matchup unpredictable and exciting.
