3 takeaways from Knights’ win: Marner flashes skill, tallies 2 goals

Mitch Marner wasn’t stressed that he went his first five games without scoring. He felt his opportunities were going to come eventually.

It took less than a minute into Saturday’s game against the Calgary Flames for Marner to finally break the dam. Then in the second period, for an encore, he showed why he’s one of the top talents in the league.

Marner scored his first two goals as a member of the Golden Knights for their third straight win, a 6-1 victory over the Flames at T-Mobile Arena.

It was Marner’s fourth multipoint outing in his sixth game with his new team, but it was the first time the Knights’ $96 million acquisition found the back of the net.

“I wasn’t all that stressed about it. I knew I was going to get looks and opportunities,” Marner said.

It didn’t take long, either. Marner opened the scoring 46 seconds into the game after left wing Ivan Barbashev forced a turnover behind the net, found a cutting Marner in the slot and Marner beat goaltender Dustin Wolf. It was the first time this season the Knights scored the game’s first goal.

But the second goal is one of the reasons why the Knights made the eight-year investment they did in Marner.

The Knights reloaded on their second power play. Marner crossed the blue line and received the puck from captain Mark Stone. Marner skated in from the right on Wolf with his forehand, deked to the backhand to avoid Wolf’s pokecheck and trickled it into the net for a 5-1 lead with 54 seconds left in the second period.

“(Stone) made a great play to me up there,” Marner said. “Just tried to use my body to fend the (defenseman) as long as I could. … I tried not to rush anything there. I just take the ice I had and make the play that I could.”

Coach Bruce Cassidy had a more direct approach in his thoughts.

“His goal today was unreal,” he said.

Stone also had two goals and two assists, and center Jack Eichel had four assists to lead the Knights (4-0-2) to a six-game point streak to begin the season.

Goaltender Adin Hill made 25 saves for his first win of the season, and he got plenty of help. The Knights scored six goals for the second straight game and have 17 in three home games.

Wolf allowed five goals on 19 shots before he was pulled prior to the start of the third.

Here are three takeaways from the win:

1. Power play keeps buzzing

As if it didn’t seem possible for the Knights to top last year’s stellar power play, they’re on pace to shatter that mark.

The Knights went 3-for-3 on the man advantage Saturday and are now 9-for-24 on the season (37.5 percent). The Minnesota Wild (38.5 percent, 10-of-26) are the only team with a better clip.

Along with Marner’s goal, center Tomas Hertl scored a power-play goal for the second straight game at 5:39 of the first, and Stone added his second goal at 2:37 of the third.

The Knights have scored on the power play in all but one game.

“It’s pretty fun,” Marner said. “So many different threats out there that make plays.”

The goals came without leading goal scorer Pavel Dorofeyev chipping in. Four of Dorofeyev’s six goals have come on the power play.

Teams have started to zero in on Dorofeyev at the right circle. That allowed Hertl enough space to capitalize on his goal. His chance at a second power-play goal was stopped, but Stone was there for the rebound for the 6-1 final.

“(Teams) have a decision to make once they get down to the goal line,” Cassidy said.

2. Eichel leading the way

It was another day at the office for the NHL’s leading scorer.

Eichel extended his point streak to six games to give him a league-high 15 points by way of his third career game with at least four assists.

It’s Eichel’s fifth four-point game with the Knights. He finished one assist shy of tying his career-high and one shy of tying the Knights’ record set by Stone in March 2021.

Eight of Eichel’s 15 points have come on the power play. Three of his assists were secondary helpers on the power play. The fourth was a cross-ice pass to Stone for a backdoor finish at 15:03 of the first for a 3-1 lead.

It’s not just the playmaking. Eichel has five goals on a league-leading 30 shots. He’s finding different ways to get on the score sheet each night. That’s the mark of a No. 1 center and the highest-paid player in team history.

3. Stone leaves in third

It wasn’t all good news for the Knights.

Stone left the game with 14:20 remaining in the third after being tripped near the Calgary blue line. He stayed on the bench momentarily before heading down the tunnel.

Cassidy didn’t have an update postgame. The Knights are off Sunday, then play the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.

Stone notched his first two goals of the season Saturday. His 11 assists are the most in the league, and his 13 points are two behind Eichel for the league lead.

Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.