Vegas Just Scored Three Straight Third-Period Goals and Utah Saw It Coming From a Mile Away
The Golden Knights are absolutely rolling right now. Vegas stormed back from being down twice to demolish Utah 4-2 in Game 1 on Sunday night, and honestly, the way they did it tells you everything about what John Tortorella has built in Sin City. The guy is 8-0-1 since taking over as coach. Not losing in regulation. That's the kind of streak that wins first-round series.
Dowd's Late Go-Ahead Goal Seals the Third-Period Takeover
Here's how it went down: Utah came out swinging and put Vegas in a hole early. Cooley's one-timer with just 11 seconds left in the first gave the Mammoth the early lead. Vegas tied it up at 3:44 of the second when Sissons jammed one in off a backhand pass from Cole Smith. But Utah answered right back, and not in a pretty way for Vegas. Hart got caught out of position, and defenseman Kaeden Korczak accidentally knocked it into his own net. The goal was credited to Stenlund, but that's the kind of moment that could deflate a team.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiNot this group. Stone tied it at 5:33 of the third on a power-play rebound, and then Nic Dowd put the dagger in at 7:20 when he redirected Noah Hanifin's shot from the point. Barbashev put the exclamation point on it with an empty-netter. Three goals in the third period. Utah had no answers.
Vegas Dominated the Physicality Battle
The Golden Knights finished with 52 hits to Utah's 29. That's not just a number, that's a statement. Vegas' season high before this was 36 hits against LA back in October. The Mammoth, playing in their first playoff game since 2020, couldn't match Vegas' intensity or depth. Carter Hart was sharp in goal with 32 saves. Utah's Karel Vejmelka made 27 saves in his first playoff game after five years with the organization.
Game 2 tips off Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Vegas is riding the wave. Utah is looking for answers.
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