Vegas Extends Win Streak To Five Games With 5-3 Win vs. Panthers

The Vegas Golden Knights (33-22-8) claimed their fifth win in a row as they ended a five-game homestand with a 5-3 victory against the Florida Panthers (32-24-6) on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
The Panthers opened the scoring early in the first period as Mike Hoffman jammed in the game's first goal. Tomas Nosek potted the game-tying goal at 11:52 of the period and the teams skated into the intermission tied at 1-1. Evgenii Dadonov put the Panthers back on top just 42 seconds into the middle frame, but William Carrier answered to knot the score at 2-2. In the final minute of the period, Max Pacioretty gave Vegas its first lead of the night with his 29th goal of the year. Just 19 seconds into the third, Reilly Smith doubled the lead to 4-2, but a goal from Aleksi Saarela made it a one-goal game once again. An empty-net tally from Smith sealed the 5-3 win for Vegas.

TOP PERFORMERS
Tomas Nosek: Nosek found the back of the net for the seventh time in 2019-20.
William Carrier: Carrier potted his seventh of the season off a fast break in the second period.
Max Pacioretty: Pacioretty's goal brought him to within one strike of the 30-goal mark.
Reilly Smith:Both of Smith's goals came in the third period.
STAT OF THE KNIGHT
Gage Quinney made his NHL debut for the Golden Knights against the Panthers. He became the first player born in Nevada to hit the ice in an NHL regular season game. Quinney, 24, was born in Las Vegas in 1995.
ATTENDANCE: 18,480
LOOKING AHEAD
The Golden Knights make the quick trip to Anaheim to face the Ducks on Sunday at 7 p.m. Catch the game on NBCSN and FOX Sports 98.9/1340.