There are some things in life that are inevitable. Death, taxes, and the Vegas Golden Knights beating the San Jose Sharks. At least, that's what Benjamin Franklin told everyone. Saturday's contest proved it as the Golden Knights blew out the Sharks, 7-3, scoring a "late" touchdown for the victory. It was business as usual for Vegas as they left Josh Fitzpatrick feeling like this:
The game marked the return of William Karlsson, who appeared in his first game of 2024-25 after an undisclosed injury. The "Misfit" scored a short-handed goal and had an assist on the first goal. Overall, it was a productive return for Karlsson, who felt like he never left.
However, the Golden Knights had other stars in the mix. That included Brett Howden, who scored two goals (!). Mark Stone also added a goal from this Jack Eichel pass (be prepared to be shocked).
That was another low point for the Sharks, who've lost nine straight games. It's enough to leave fans screaming in anguish, as the team looked hapless. It provided the Golden Knights plenty of ammo, specifically in the form of 42 shots.
But it was more than a simple Karlsson return or Howden continuing his hot start. It was an overall team effort that continued a trend for the Golden Knights. It also displayed the team's strength at T-Mobile Arena, where the NHL-leading offense (4.67 goals per game) was on full display.
How the Vegas Golden Knights dominated the San Jose Sharks
First, it was an overall blitz in the first period, where the Vegas Golden Knights scored two goals in the first four minutes. It started with William Karlsson fed Tanner Pearson for a goal. Almost two minutes later, Jack Eichel added another goal to make it 2-0.
At the tail end of the period came Brett Howden's fourth goal, which put the game out of reach for the San Jose Sharks. After that, it was an easy victory for the Golden Knights, who added four more goals. That included a Karlsson short-handed goal, when he capitalized on a Vitek Vanecek gaffe playing the puck.
Overall, it was a disaster for the Sharks, who are still the only NHL team without a win. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights improve their record to 6-2-1 and claim first place in the Pacific Division. They have 13 points and put themselves ahead of the Calgary Flames.
There were other noteworthy items from the game, such as Mark Stone becoming the NHL leader in points (17). However, it was business as usual for the Golden Knights, who handled the Sharks in every way on Saturday. A recipe of playing a weaker Sharks team with a "Misfit" returning, and home cooking at T-Mobile Arena makes for two points in Las Vegas.