Golden Knights lose to Red Wings in OT, but gain in Pacific

LAS VEGAS --The Vegas Golden Knights gained in the Pacific Division despite losing 3-2 in overtime to the Detroit Red Wings at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.

Vegas (42-27-6), which had won four in a row, is five points behind the San Jose Sharks for second place. Malcolm Subban, who was making his fourth straight start, made 27 saves.
"We've been good for the last 10 or 11 games], so sometimes it happens," Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. "We can be better, but you've got to give them some credit. They came in here and played a competitive game."
***[WATCH: [All Red Wings vs. Golden Knights highlights]*
Anthony Mantha scored twice, including the winner in overtime, for Detroit (27-38-10), which has won three of its past four games and has been eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention. Jimmy Howard made 28 saves.
After forcing a turnover by Golden Knights forward Reilly Smith, Dylan Larkin skated across the slot and sent a backhand pass to Mantha for a one-timer in the slot at 19 seconds of overtime.
"Great play by Larkin. He was all over that forecheck, good stick on puck, created the turnover and then he tried to get a shot off and he wasn't able to," Mantha said. "So he just tried to tap it back and he found my stick and it was a wide-open net."

Luke Glendening gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead at 3:06 of the first period after taking a cross-crease pass from Andreas Athanasiou. It was his first goal since Feb. 12 (18 games).
"We were flat at the start of the game and had a little bit of [a lull] in the second period," Gallant said. "I didn't think we played horrible, but we didn't have the energy or the jump."
Howard said the forecheck from Detroit contributed in controlling the game.
"We didn't mess around with the puck in our own zone," Howard said. "When we got [the puck], we had a plan tonight to bypass. They're going to come with an aggressive 2-1-2 forecheck and we did a lot of bypasses and a lot of winger highs to try and spread them out."

Cody Eakin scored his NHL career-high 20th of the season to tie it 1-1 at 14:43 of the second period. Howard made the initial save on Ryan Reaves' deflection, but Eakin scored on the rebound in front of the crease.
Smith, playing in his 500th NHL game, scored shorthanded on a breakaway at 10:12 of the third period to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead, but Mantha tied it 2-2 on the same power play 1:05 later.
"I've had some ups and downs this year," Mantha said. "But I've had to focus a little bit more on the downs this year and try to build off of that for next year and try to be even a better player next year."

They said it

"From the drop of the puck, we were ready to go tonight. We had a great start to almost every single period and when we do that, it gives us confidence, especially the younger guys in the lineup, and we're able to play the right way." -- Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard
"We didn't put enough pucks at their goalie early. They played faster than us, they blocked a lot of shots, collapsed in front of the net. One [point] is better than none." -- Golden Knights forward Cody Eakin

Need to know

Larkin's assist on Mantha's overtime goal was his first point in five games. … Red Wings forward Taro Hirose had an assist for his third straight game to begin his NHL career. Hirose, the Big Ten Player of the Year at Michigan State, signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Detroit on March 12. … Athanasiou had two assists and has six points (four goals, two assists) in his past four games. … Red Wings forward Matt Puempel had three shots in 8:03 of ice time in his Red Wings debut. He was recalled from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League on Friday. … Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty (lower body) did not play and his status for Monday against the St. Louis Blues is uncertain. … Smith has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past four games. … Golden Knights forward William Carrier (upper body) had 11 hits in 11:10 of ice time in his first game since Feb. 16. ... Vegas center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (undisclosed) missed his second consecutive game.

What's next

Red Wings:At the San Jose Sharks on Monday (10:30 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, NBCSCA, FS-D, NHL.TV)
Golden Knights:At the St. Louis Blues on Monday (8 p.m. ET; FS-MW, ATTSN-RM, NHL.TV)