It started with a little flurry of action and ended with a little flurry of fists. In between was a 6-3 win for the Vegas Golden Knights over the team that blanked them six days ago 3-0, the Detroit Red Wings. They only trailed for seven minutes on a flukey Lucas Raymond goal off Alex Pietrangelo’s stick. Then Tomas Hertl scored on the power play and it was game over. Here are my three takeaways from tonight’s smooth newsie of a night in the Fortress.
A home hat on a hat trick!
🚨 HERTL HAT TRICK ALERTL 🚨 pic.twitter.com/BHivljsjxY
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 23, 2025
That goal completed a third hat trick in three straight home games, something that’s never happened in team history. It’s the second time in the league since 1994-1995 that’s happened (last season’s Maple Leafs being the other team before tonight). What’s trippy isn’t that it came from two of the best players on the team not named Jack Eichel. It’s that the tri-hat trick came off of 12 combined shots.
Now, the chances of going four in a row tomorrow against the Lightning are… not that sparkling. Tampa Bay is seventh in the league on the penalty kill, killing 10 of their 11 opposition power play chances. But on a weekend when Abby Roque scored the first “Michigan” goal in PWHL history, why not connect four!
A little brilliance, a little worry on the special teams for Vegas
A familiar tune this season for Vegas with a new verse tonight. They were perfect on the power play tonight for the third time this month, cashing in both opportunities in the first two periods. They’ve scored a power play goal in every game so far in March except for last weekend’s back-to-back groaners in Buffalo and Detroit.
On the flip side though, the Golden Knights also had two strong power play chances, which they both cashed in. It was the sixth time in the last seven games the Golden Knights have given up two or more power play chances. Only two of those games, including tonight, ended with a win.
Jack Eichel sets the season points record, closes in on another historical marker
Underneath the understandable hoopla regarding Alex Ovechkin is a cool story that is starting to percolate regarding Jack Eichel. With a goal and three assists (his 28th multi-point game this season), he’s now four points away from Vegas’ first 90-point season by a player. He’s had points in every single game in March, except on March 16 against Detroit. There aren't many verbs left to describe how amazing he is as a player.
At this pace, 90 is close to a lock at this point, probably somewhere in the next road trip this week. Also, for the first time, I think a 100-point season for Eichel is a more than realistic chance right now.
Next on the Marquee:
The Tampa Bay Lightning come in to wrap up the homestand tomorrow evening at 5 P.M. They lost 6-4 to Utah HC earlier tonight just before puck drop at the Fortress, and only 5-4-1 in their last 10. But there’s gonna be Andrei Vasilevskiy in net, who’s won his last three starts giving up only four goals combined. Another night like tonight would be welcome, though. We’ll see. Until then…