Jack Eichel scored a goal and added an assist to help the Vegas Golden Knights secure a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday, snapping a five-game losing streak. Pavel Dorofeyev and Ivan Barbashev also found the net for Vegas, while Elias Pettersson and P.O. Joseph scored for Vancouver. The win improves Vegas to 26-16-14, providing momentum heading into the Olympic break.
The Vegas Golden Knights hosted the Vancouver Canucks in a crucial matchup before the NHL's Olympic break, aiming to halt a skid that saw them lose seven of their last eight games (1-5-2). Vegas jumped ahead in the second period, with Eichel opening the scoring at 5:09 on a shot from the half wall after a pass from Rasmus Andersson. Cole Reinhardt extended the lead to 2-0 just 1:25 later with a backhand-to-forehand finish on a rush assisted by Braeden Bowman.
Pettersson pulled Vancouver within one at 7:11 with a goal on the rush, but Barbashev responded 28 seconds later, roofing a wrist shot from the slot off a drop pass from Mark Stone to make it 3-1. Joseph narrowed the gap to 3-2 at 19:51 of the second with a wrist shot from the left point, his first goal since April 4, 2024.
In the third, Dorofeyev restored the two-goal advantage at 2:31, tapping in a pass from Mitch Marner after a puck battle win near the boards. Alexander Holtz added insurance at 3:31, finishing a rebound from Keegan Kolesar in the low slot for the 5-2 final.
Akira Schmid made 21 saves for Vegas, while Kevin Lankinen stopped 26 shots for Vancouver, who have now lost six of seven (1-5-1). "I don’t think by any means it was our best game," Eichel said. "But found a way to win, that’s what matters."
Vancouver coach Adam Foote noted positives despite the loss: "We had some good things going on… We need everyone on board. When we’re playing our best hockey, everyone is."
Notes from the game include Eichel reaching his ninth 20-goal season, one of only eight active American players with that mark, and Stone recording his 50th multi-assist game with Vegas, joining Shea Theodore. Dorofeyev's goal was his 80th in 205 games, second-fastest in franchise history behind Eichel's 186. Rookie Kai Uchacz made his NHL debut, registering five hits in 11:49 of ice time.
This victory caps a resilient effort for Vegas, who will now rest before resuming play after the Olympics.