3 takeaways from Knights’ win: Defenseman returns, Eichel gets hat trick
The year of Jack Eichel has reached another level.
Eichel recorded the fifth hat trick of his career, scoring twice in the third period, and the Golden Knights defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-1 at Xcel Energy Center on Tuesday for their fourth straight win.
“Sometimes they come,” Eichel said. “I was the benefactor of a few nice plays. It was nice to get rewarded tonight. It was a good win for us.”
The three goals pushed Eichel to 90 points on the season, inching him closer to the first 100-point campaign of his career. He’s also four goals from his third 30-goal season.
It was Eichel’s third hat trick with the Knights and first since he had one against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 19, 2023.
“He’s just a good player,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “He stands out every night.”
Center Brett Howden reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career, while goaltender Adin Hill made 23 saves for the Knights (43-20-8).
The Wild (40-27-5) were on their heels from the jump. Minnesota, which lost 3-0 on the road to the Dallas Stars on Monday, was outshot 11-4 in the first period.
Eichel scored his first goal 6:23 into the game off a backhand pass from Mark Stone, the first of Stone’s two assists to Eichel on the night.
Howden increased the Knights’ lead to 2-0 by pouncing on the rebound of a shot from defenseman Noah Hanifin 8:22 into the second period.
The Wild got to their game in the third and started testing Hill. Left wing Marcus Johansson scored from the slot off a turnover from Stone 1:42 into the final frame to cut Minnesota’s deficit to 2-1.
Eichel took over from there. He scored his second goal on the power play with 5:03 remaining, then completed the Knights’ fourth hat trick in nine games with a goal 2:31 later.
Left wing Tanner Pearson added an empty-net goal in between Eichel’s last two tallies.
“I think we feel comfortable in those one-goal games,” Eichel said. “That’s part of the identity of our team. We give up a goal, and I don’t think we changed too much.”
The Knights would face the Wild in the first round of the playoffs as things stand, but it’s not a guarantee. The St. Louis Blues are two points behind Minnesota for the top wild-card spot after winning their seventh straight game Tuesday.
The Knights can be confident no matter who they face. They’re 10-3-2 since the 4 Nations Face-Off and are averaging 3.8 goals per game in that stretch, the fourth-most in the NHL.
“We’re scoring in different ways. We’re getting contributions from up and down the lineup,” Eichel said. “All those things are positive and what you want to see this time of year.”
Here are three takeaways from the win:
1. Theodore back
Defenseman Shea Theodore had an assist in his return to the lineup after missing 14 games with a broken wrist.
The injury occurred during the 4 Nations Face-Off while Theodore was playing for Team Canada. It halted a career year for the 29-year-old, who now has 49 points in 56 games.
“It felt like a first game back,” Theodore said. “I felt good for the most part. Good to get the first one out of the way.”
2. Pietrangelo out
The Knights got Theodore back, but played without defenseman Alex Pietrangelo on Tuesday. Pietrangelo is considered day to day with a lower-body injury.
Cassidy said he doesn’t know if Pietrangelo will play in the final two games of the Knights’ road trip, but he isn’t expected to be out long.
Tuesday was Pietrangelo’s fourth missed game of the season. He didn’t participate in the 4 Nations Face-Off due to an undisclosed ailment.
3. Fleury farewell
Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 33 saves in what was likely his final regular-season meeting against his former team.
Fleury, who is expected to retire at the end of the year, joined the Knights in the 2017 expansion draft and played four seasons with the team. He won the Vezina Trophy with the club in 2021.
Fleury was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks that offseason. He finished his career with a 1-4-0 record against the Knights, to go with a 4.33 goals-against average and an .877 save percentage.
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
