Adin Hill kept the Vegas Golden Knights living on a prayer against the Kraken

The Golden Knights moved one step closer to the Pacific Division title with a 2-1 win Thursday night over the Seattle Kraken. It was a game that was much like going through "Finals Week" for a high school student: Enough energy to finish well, barely enough to get out of there in one piece. There was also a little bit of what any high school student loves to have during "Finals Week": luck. Here are my three takeaways from a grungy and victorious night at T-Mobile Arena.

Actual good news in the second period for once for Vegas

At first glance, it may seem like a tiny note to harp on. But there is some value to acknowledge. In the last five games, the Golden Knights were outscored 9-3 and outshot 53-38 in the second period (most of that against the Avalanche). They also have seen a lead disappear in the middle frame in four of those five games. In the case of the Winnipeg game, the second period was essentially the final long, excruciating nail in the coffin of the game overall.

Thursday night was the rare appearance of a complete period for the Golden Knights; a strong boomer of a goal by William Karlsson balanced with strong netminding by Adin Hill. Yes, the third period was more frazzled than it needed to be. But it’s hard to doubt that “Chase us!” vibe Vegas established in that second period didn’t help get the job done.

A full team effort makes up offensively in absence of Jack Eichel…at least for one night

The big story heading into this game was the return of Tomas Hertl to the lineup after eight games. What was underneath that was the absence of Jack Eichel due to injury, leaving the "Line Blender" to do its work. The goal? Make up the scoring. They were successful…somewhat.

Seven different players had more than one shot in the game, including the two goal scorers (Karlsson, Ivan Barbashev). It could’ve easily been more than two goals if not for a crossbar and Daccord’s stellar netminding for Seattle. This type of balance is gonna be helpful for this team if Eichel’s out these next three games, though with much better finishing than we saw Thursday night.

Adin Hill a shining beacon amidst the scrappiness

Adin Hill was brilliant in net on Thursday, stopping 24 of 25 shots. You could probably throw a dart on another Thursday night (or any other night, for that matter) this season and come to the same conclusion. Given the messiness that was the third period, Vegas needed every bit of that brilliance to keep this from going to OT for the third time in the last four games. The skillful defensive work of Noah Hanifin and Brayden McNabb didn’t hurt either.

The win puts further distance from the messy couple of games he had in the last homestand. Still, with one slightly worrying factoid attached to it, it raises some alarms. Since the 4 Nations break, he is 3-3 against playoff teams with a 2.50 GAA and a .911 save percentage; the three losses came against teams (Winnipeg, Edmonton, Los Angeles) the Golden Knights might face over the next month.

Next on the Marquee:

It’s Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday night at 7 P.M. against the Nashville Predators, wrapping up another successful home schedule for the Vegas Golden Knights. They should probably have a good idea if this will be a division-clinching game or not, given that the Kings-Avalanche game will be over hours before faceoff. There would be a nice poetic end to it if that’s the case, much like Loial’s death in The Wheel of Time.

I’d be happy with less lineup drama like the last time the Golden Knights played Nashville. Anyway, Until then…