The Vegas Golden Knights will look to extend their season-high winning streak to six games on Sunday night when they host the Calgary Flames.
The Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights enter the contest with the best home record in the NHL (14-3-0). Vegas also has excelled in games against teams in its own division (12-2-1) as well as the Western Conference (20-3-2).
The Golden Knights come in off a 6-3 victory at San Jose on Friday, scoring four times in the third period. Brayden McNabb and Jack Eichel scored short-handed goals just 23 seconds apart to fuel the comeback as Vegas improved to 9-1-0 in December.
“We’re finding ways to win, different people contributing,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “That was kind of a weird way of getting the lead. It’s not going to happen every night but, again, finding ways (to win). We won it with our penalty kill, scoring goals and killing penalties.”
Vegas has scored five short-handed goals this season, including three in the past two games.
“I feel like we’re hard to beat,” center William Karlsson said. “I feel we can play with a lead and play when we’re chasing as well. Mentally we’re locked in.”
“We’re finding ways to win in multiple different scenarios, which is good,” added forward Keegan Kolesar, who has already surpassed his career high with nine goals.
“Along with that we’re also addressing areas that we need to get better, and then we’re seeing improvement in it.”
Calgary brings a five-game point streak (3-0-2) into the contest, including two wins in a row. The Flames will be playing the second game of a road back-to-back that started with a 3-1 victory at San Jose on Saturday.
Jonathan Huberdeau scored twice to extend his goal streak to three games for the Flames, who moved into a tie with the Dallas Stars for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference with 41 points.
Dustin Wolf, who grew up in nearby Gilroy, made 21 saves.
“Our road games have been a struggle for us this year but we all came in here rested after a long (holiday) break,” said Wolf, who improved to 11-5-2. “For myself, it feels good to come home. I watched so many hockey games in this arena and I like to think it gives you a little extra jump. It was cool to have some family in the crowd.”
Huberdeau, who scored 12 goals in 81 games in 2023-24, now has a team-leading 15 goals in 35 games this season.
“I think we played well,” Huberdeau said. “They had their surge but I think we (stuck) with it. I think Wolfie was great tonight making some good saves. Guys were blocking shots, too. … We defended well and came out with a big win. That’s how we have to play, especially on the road. Huge win and right back at it (Sunday).”
This will be the second of four meetings between the two Pacific Division rivals. Vegas, behind 16 saves by Adin Hill and two goals and an assist by Kolesar, recorded a 5-0 win at home on Oct. 28.
–Field Level Media
