LAS VEGAS — The Golden Knights fell behind early for the second straight game, and their late surge in Pittsburgh wouldn’t be enough.
Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson scored 49 seconds into overtime to give Pittsburgh a 3-2 win after Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin tied the game with seven seconds left in regulation.
Pittsburgh took a 2-0 lead when Sidney Crosby scored in the first and second periods.
“We came in from the West Coast so there’s gonna be a bit of an adjustment,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “I didn’t mind our start. Listen, do we want to start better? Yes. But considering the circumstances, we didn’t give up much. We took some penalties in the O-zone, two high sticks. Typically, not us. They make a good play. We kind of read the play wrong and we leave a dangerous player open in front, they buried it.
“I thought we got to our game, and we’re the better team the rest of the way.”
Pavel Dorofeyev cut the lead in half with his 25th goal of the season later in the second period.
Vegas outshot the Penguins 19-4 in the third period but it wouldn’t be until the Knights pulled goaltender Ilya Samsonov for a 6-on-5 advantage that Hanifin would score the equalizer with a blast from just above the right circle.
Samsonov stopped 14 shots in the loss.
“Their goaltender outplayed ours in the end,” Cassidy added. “Take the point because when you get it with your goalie out that late, probably deserved a better fate in the end, but we’ll take it and move on, get ready for Columbus.”
Here are three takeaways from Sunday’s loss:
JACKED UP: When Jack Eichel assisted on Dorofeyev’s goal in the second period it was his 78th point (20 goals, 58 assists), moving him into a tie for the all-time franchise record with William Karlsson for points in one season. Eichel, who has a six-game point streak, ranks eighth in the league in points and is tied for fourth in assists.
“He’s an amazing player,” Hanifin said. “It’s been awesome being able to play with him and such a great teammate, great leader for our group. He’s a special player. I’ve said it before, just his commitment defensively away from the puck is pretty special and sometimes it can go unnoticed. He has a great 200-foot game. He’s the leader for our team.”
With his assist on Dorofeyev’s goal…
JACK EICHEL HAS TIED THE FRANCHISE RECORD FOR POINTS IN A SINGLE SEASON 🎰
Eichel recorded his 78th point (20G, 58A) of the season to tie William Karlsson’s mark set in 2017-18 (43G, 35A)#VegasBorn
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 12, 2025
PACIFIC RACE: At the very least, Hanifin’s goal got the Knights into overtime assuring them of at least one point. Vegas is now five points in front of the Edmonton Oilers (83 to 78), both with 18 games to play. Per Canada Sports Betting (https://www.canadasportsbetting.ca/), the Golden Knights have the seventh-easiest schedule while Edmonton has the 11th-easiest schedule, as of March 6. The teams meet once more this season, on April 1, in Las Vegas.
NEXT UP: The Knights travel to Columbus, which dropped a 5-3 decision in New Jersey while Vegas was playing in Pittsburgh. After coming out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break with four straight wins, the Blue Jackets have lost three of four and will be returning from a four-game road trip that ran through Tampa, Sunrise (Fla.), Manhattan and New Jersey. The Blue Jackets are 10-2-1 in their first game after being on the road.
