National Hockey League
Vegas 5, New Jersey 3
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, December 16, 2021
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Referees: Kendrick Nicholson, Chris Rooney
Linesmen: Ryan Daisy, Libor Suchanek
Attendance: 12724

William Karlsson and Nicolas Roy scored 33 seconds apart in the third period to lift the visiting Vegas Golden Knights to a 5-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night in Newark, N.J.

Defenseman Dylan Coghlan scored a power-play goal and William Carrier and Jonathan Marchessault also scored for the Golden Knights, who have scored 33 goals during their last seven games (6-1-0). Reilly Smith had a pair of assists and Robin Lehner finished with 23 saves before leaving in the late stages for his role in a skirmish.

Tomas Tatar collected a goal and an assist and Jack Hughes and Jimmy Vesey also scored for the Devils, who have lost four in a row and eight of their last nine (1-7-1).

Keegan Kolesar's shot from the left circle was redirected home by Carrier to give Vegas a 2-1 lead at 3:47 of the second period. Carrier's goal was his fourth of the season and first since Dec. 1.

Karlsson's wrist shot found the top corner 7:37 into the third period and Roy converted a 2-on-1 rush against Mackenzie Blackwood (25 saves) shortly thereafter to push the Golden Knights' lead to 4-1. Karlsson's goal was his third of the season, while Roy's goal was his fifth of the season and third in his last six games.

Tatar scored on a power play and Vesey added a short-handed goal with 7:31 remaining in the third period, but Marchessault found the empty net to seal the win.

Hughes opened the scoring just 1:41 into the first period after cleaning up a rebound. It was his fifth goal of the season.

Coghlan, who was inserted into the lineup in place of Shea Theodore, forged a tie at 10:27 of the first period after his blast from above the circles sailed past Blackwood.

New Jersey's Jesper Boqvist missed the game after being entered into the NHL's COVID-19 protocol. Defenseman P.K. Subban was held out as a precaution.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Vegas   New Jersey
Dylan Coghlan 2 Points Tomas Tatar 2
Dylan Coghlan 1 Goals Tomas Tatar 1
Reilly Smith 2 Assists Tomas Tatar 1
Dylan Coghlan 1 Power Play Goals Tomas Tatar 1
N/A Short Handed Goals Jimmy Vesey 1
Robin Lehner .885 Save Percentage Mackenzie Blackwood .862
Robin Lehner 23 Saves Mackenzie Blackwood 25
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Vegas 30 5 1-4 2-3 26 29
New Jersey 26 3 1-3 3-4 18 31
Upcoming Games
  • New Jersey will play their next game on the road against Detroit. The Devils have a W/L % of .300 after a win and .389 after a loss.
  • Vegas will play their next game on the road against NY Rangers. The Golden Knights have a W/L % of .588 after a win and .667 after a loss.