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Vegas Golden Knights: Lehner shines on debut, other takeaways

By Andrew Steele-Davis

Robin Lehner #90 of the Vegas Golden Knights makes a diving save against the Buffalo Sabres. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Robin Lehner #90 of the Vegas Golden Knights makes a diving save against the Buffalo Sabres. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 28: Robin Lehner #90 of the Vegas Golden Knights makes a diving save against the Buffalo Sabres in the third period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 28, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sabres 4-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 28: Robin Lehner #90 of the Vegas Golden Knights makes a diving save against the Buffalo Sabres in the third period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 28, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sabres 4-2. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

The Vegas Golden Knights gave Robin Lehner a win on his debut after beating the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 at T-Mobile Arena on Friday night.

After being acquired in a blockbuster trade from the Chicago Blackhawks at the Trade Deadline, Lehner made an instant impact in his first start for the Vegas Golden Knights.

He stopped 32 of the 34 shots fired at him as the Golden Knights extended their winning streak to a season-high eight games.

However, the Knights were guilty again of starting slow as Dominik Kahun ripped a shot from the slot area past Lehner after the defense coughed up a cheap turnover.

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Nicolas Roy made it a tied game midway through the first period, though, after the forward latched onto a feed from Nick Cousins before deking Carter Hutton and beating the Sabres goalie.

It was an even second period with both teams doing a good job of stifling each other, before the contest really exploded in the third period.

And it was the Golden Knights who really took control of the game as William Karlsson tipped in a Max Pacioretty dish on the doorstep to make it a one-goal game.

Reilly Smith then strengthened Vegas’ grip on the contest moments later after skating behind the net before putting a wraparound behind Hutton.

And the game was iced in the waning minutes as Smith recorded his second goal of the game, sending the puck into an empty-net to make it eight straight wins.

Jeff Skinner did make it a two-goal game after banking in a puck off Lehner and into the net, but it was too little too late for the Sabres as the Vegas Golden Knights continue to strength their grip on the Pacific Division.

We had some takeaways from the game…

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