Well, they had us panicking for a moment there. After yet another goal-less first period and trailing for most of the first half, it was looking to be another bog-standard Golden Knights loss in a season filled with them.
Until it wasn't.
From the 17-minute mark of the third period onward, the Golden Knights finally locked in in a way they haven't in some time. A pair of timely goals, solid defense, and an unexpected bounce-back for Adin Hill all propelled Vegas to their first win in over a week, and the first of John Tortorella's tenure as bench boss. Although it was a close game against the worst team in hockey, Vegas desperately needed this one; let's take a look at how they got there.
Suddenly, Rasmus Andersson is on a heater
Rasmus Andersson's time with Vegas has been a letdown, to say the least. While I'll add the disclaimer that I wasn't a fan of his acquisition in the first place, he just hasn't gelled with the team in the way you'd hope of a star acquisition. When combined with his alleged contract demands and the high likelihood of management going sunk-cost with him, there's ample reasons to not be big on his potential long-term future here.
Except... suddenly, he might've figured it out. After putting up just seven points in his first 22 games with Vegas, Andersson is now point-per game over his last four, including three goals. The Swedish defenseman was able to follow up his absolutely nasty shorthanded goal against the Capitals with another goal against Vancouver on Monday, tucking in a Tomas Hertl net-front pass to put Vegas on the board early-ish in the second:
Rasmus Andersson with the first goal of the Tortorella era.. forgoes the stare celebration
— Scoot (@slastnightsgame) March 31, 2026
pic.twitter.com/kda5sp3vXe
It's a small sample size, but encouraging for a guy who's had a rocky tenure thus far. While his scoring streak started in the last games of the Cassidy era, maybe the new coach boost will spur on further performance.
For the second straight game, an early poor performance is overcome
Remember earlier in the season, when comebacks (whether wins or OT losses) were the norm? And remember this past month, when those dried up? For the last while, slow starts have basically folded the Golden Knights like wet cardboard, with the team unable to generate any sort of momentum if things were already going their opponents' way. For the second consecutive game, though, that didn't happen.
After overcoming a 3-0 hole against Washington to take the lead (ultimately losing in a shootout), Vegas did similarly on Monday, overcoming deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 in quick succession. The 2-1 deficit in particular was notable to overcome, as the Canucks scoring so quickly after Vegas' equalizer was the sort of thing that usually would've sucked the wind out of their sails for most of the game. Evander Kane, of all guys (playing in his 1,000th game), scoring the opener was enough of a dampener by itself too, but that was quickly put in the rear-view mirror.
Even Adin Hill got in on the action with something of a bounce-back. While Torts continued Cassidy's questionable trend, with Hill starting for an 11th time in 12 games, Hill was basically average to good, stopping 22 of 24 Vancouver shots and posting a goals saved above average only just under 0. While I still think Schmid should get the next game, it's an encouraging one for Hill under the second coach of his Golden Knights tenure.
Up next, Vegas takes on another basement team in the Calgary Flames on Thursday night. Let the Torts era continue!