Mitch Marner gave the Vegas Golden Knights the finishing touch they needed Saturday night, burying the overtime winner in a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena.
Vegas improved to 5-1-0 and stretched its winning streak to four games. Los Angeles dropped to 0-2-2.
The Golden Knights opened the scoring early in the second period when Trevor Connelly finished a power-play chance with a snapshot 2:37 into the frame. Mark Stone and Marner assisted on the goal, which was Connelly’s first career power-play tally.
The Kings quickly answered on the man advantage as Artemi Panarin tied it 1-1.
From there, neither side could solve the other in regulation. The game stayed locked until overtime, when Shea Theodore drew a tripping penalty. Just six seconds into the power play, Marner fired a shot from the high slot past Darcy Kuemper to end it.
Carter Hart made the late work look easy, stopping 31 of 32 shots and helping Vegas pick up its second straight win beyond regulation.
Marner finished with his second goal of the season, and his first overtime goal as a Golden Knight. Connelly logged the first multi-point game of his career with a goal and an assist, while Stone chipped in two assists to extend his point streak to four games.
Saturday also marked the 64th time Stone has helped create a game-opening goal as a Golden Knight. Vegas has now scored twice on the power play in a game for the second time this season.
The Golden Knights head to Minnesota next, visiting the Wild at Grand Casino Arena on Monday at 5 p.m. PT.
In Other News...
Golden Knights Face Early Test Beyond Their Red-Hot Top Line
The Golden Knights have opened the season atop the Pacific Division, and much of that early push has come from the kind of top-line production that can carry a team through the first weeks of a schedule. But even in a good start, there are other pressures underneath the scoring, and Vegas is already juggling roster tweaks caused by injury while trying to keep its defensive structure and special teams steady.
Over the next stretch, the focus shifts from simply riding offense to managing the grind that comes with a demanding slate. The Golden Knights have to navigate road trips, balance pairings on the back end, protect their penalty kill, and keep the workload reasonable for their goaltenders while they move through games in Minnesota, Nashville, Calgary and Pittsburgh. The challenge is less about what the top line has already done and more about how well the rest of the roster holds up if the schedule starts asking harder questions. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Call-Up Puts Unexpected Focus On Vegas Blue-Line Depth
The Golden Knights latest roster move brought some unexpected attention back to the back end, with defenseman Ville Heinola recalled from the Henderson Silver Knights to give Vegas another option on the blue line. The move comes as the team adjusts its group after an injury setback up front, and it underscores how quickly depth can become a priority over the course of a season.
Heinolas arrival adds another layer of insurance behind the regular defense rotation, where Dylan Coghlan already serves as a backup option. For a Vegas club that likes to stay protected against attrition, the recall is a reminder that the margin for error can shrink fast, and the next man up often needs to be ready before the lineup picture settles. [Read more 🡒]
Mitch Marner Is Already Shaping A Young Golden Knights Future
Mitch Marner has wasted little time becoming part of the Golden Knights fabric beyond his own production. The veteran winger has been working with rookie Trevor Connelly as the first-round pick settles into NHL life, giving Vegas another reminder that Marners impact can show up well before the playoffs ever arrive. Connelly has already played six NHL games and has chipped in two goals and four points, an encouraging start for a young player trying to earn trust in a demanding lineup.
The relationship has been noticeable enough that both players have spoken positively about it, which matters for a team trying to build a sustainable next wave around its current core. For Vegas, the appeal is obvious: Marner is not just helping Connelly get through the early learning curve, he is also helping shape the way the Golden Knights younger talent is being introduced to the league. The next step in that development is still unfolding, but the early signs suggest Connelly has found a useful guide. [Read more 🡒]