LAS VEGAS -- Chandler Stephenson had a goal and two assists for the Vegas Golden Knights in a 4-1 victory against the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.

“Today, we started better than we have been, so we’re getting in a rhythm of playing,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We’ve found our game when we needed to.”

Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore each had a goal and an assist, and Adin Hill made 22 saves for Vegas (3-0-0).

“I don’t think that was our best game by any means, but we found a way to win. That’s what’s important,” Eichel said. “‘Hilly’ made some big saves for us, it was good to see ‘Theo’ get one. ‘Stevie,’ obviously, great play with Paul [Cotter] there, and it was a good team effort.”

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      ANA@VGK: Eichel scores beautiful PPG in waning seconds

      Mason McTavish scored, and John Gibson made 34 saves for Anaheim, which was playing its season opener.

      “We played hard. I'm not disappointed with the effort. The execution got sloppy,” said Ducks coach Greg Cronin, who was making his NHL coaching debut. “That was a game of inches, for me, on puck battles a number of times, and they won those battles. They're a veteran team, they know how to win, they make the right plays and they execute. But I'm proud of the way that the guys played. They played hard, and we have to package that up and do it again tomorrow (against the Carolina Hurricanes).”

      Eichel gave Vegas a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal with 1.3 seconds remaining in the first period. He skated into the zone and put the puck between Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas before tucking a shot past Gibson’s left pad.

      “I saw there was about 13 seconds. I tried to get another attack in,” Eichel said. “I was just trying to get to the net knowing there’s not a lot of time. Couple of fortuitus bounces and it was a good goal.”

      Stephenson made it 2-0 at 15:03 of the second period, tapping the puck into an open net off a pass from Cotter on a rush.

      Cotter was playing on the second line with Stephenson and Mark Stone for the second straight game with Brett Howden serving a two-game suspension.

      “Heck of a play he made,” Stephenson said. “I didn’t have to do much. It’s been nice to see him bloom and come into his own here. He’s going to get more trust in the coaches, and he’s a good player.”

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          ANA@VGK: Stephenson, Cotter combine for a goal in 2nd

          Theodore extended the lead to 3-0 at 6:16 of the third period, roofing a slap shot from above the left circle on a power play.

          Vegas finished the game 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. Anaheim was 4-for-6.

          “We’re doing a better job at being in sync (on the penalty kill),” Cassidy said. “It’s been obviously really good. Goaltending makes the save. There’s always going to be chances and some tough bounces, but we haven’t had to deal with tough bounces yet.”

          McTavish scored 29 seconds later on a rebound to cut it to 3-1 at 6:45, but Jonas Rondbjerg shot into an empty net at 17:32 for the 4-1 final.

          NOTES: Rondbjerg's goal was his first since Nov. 24, 2021. ... Eichel has gotten a point in all three games this season (two goals, two assists). ... McTavish went 10-for-16 on face-offs. Ducks forward Trevor Zegras was 8-for-13.