One down, two more to go (if the hockey gods smile on us). With Tomas Hertl missing his first game this season, the Vegas Golden Knights continued on their winning ways with a 5-1 win over the Minnesota Wild.
In a potential first-round matchup, it was tight for the first couple of periods thanks to Marc-Andre Fleury. Then Jack Eichel went into another gear and Vegas maintained a safe distance in the Pacific Division. Here are my three takeaways from a Prince-ly pleasant night in Minnesota.
Jack Eichel hits 90 points powered by fifth career Hat Trick
With Hertl gone for at least this week due to a shoulder injury, it was crucial that someone on the Golden Knights carry the hot play he’d been on the past week. It makes perfect sense that the job would come to Jack Eichel tonight, who had Vegas's second hat trick in the last 72 hours. The goals also got him to 90 points this season, a first in team history. It could become a 100-point season if he keeps up this pace, which is becoming a sure bet with each passing day.
absolutely unreal 🎩🎩🎩 pic.twitter.com/GgWhEK6cmc
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 26, 2025
It was the kind of dominant night for Eichel that has populated so much of his play this month (and this season). It’s also the kind of play Vegas will need to keep playing in June if Hertl is still out when the calendar turns to May.
Say Hey, Shea!
Shea Theodore returned to the lineup for the first time since Feb. 8 against Boston. He ended up with an assist on Jack Eichel’s goal in the first, which was the big sparkly highlight of the night. Still, I think his return was unquestionably a steadying influence on the blueline that held two of their biggest scorers (Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi) to one shot and a combined -6.
They also allowed the Wild to fire 24 shots, a little under their average of 27.9 shots a game. After giving up 68 combined shots over the weekend, it’s a reassuring note for the rest of this road trip.
These kinds of games are big for Theodore to get back to his full dominant self, especially with Edmonton a week from tonight at T-Mobile Arena. Though given the career numbers he’s posted against Chicago (four goals, nine assists, +13 in 19 games) and Nashville (four goals, six assists, +5 in 17 games), odds are that dominance will come soon.
Welcome to the 20-goal club, Brett Howden!
Other people scored tonight for the Golden Knights, you know. One of them was Tanner Pearson and the other was Brett Howden, who had his 20th goal in the first period, adding to what’s been a career year for the seventh-year player. The goal also makes it five Vegas players (Tomas Hertl, Jack Eichel, Pavel Dorofeyev, Ivan Barbashev) with 20+ goals this season, the most in team history.
He’s also the cheapest center on the team ($1.90 million this season), which is a low-key steal. That’s not even mentioning his postseason resume while a Golden Knight (six goals, six assists, +5 in 29 games), which is a key for a proper deep run this season.
Next on the Marquee:
It's back-to-back for the third straight week, starting with a Friday night jaunt to the United Center to take on the Chicago Blackhawks at 5:30 P.M. The last time Vegas was at the United Center back on January 18 was an exhausting flurry of emotions that ended in a loss. The last time they played Chicago at T-Mobile Arena was an exhausting flurry of emotions that ended in a win.
On the plus side, they’ve lost seven of their last eight, so odds are they’re probably getting ready for the offseason. But still, in either direction, I’d have some soothing tea at the ready- just in case! Until then…