Thompson's 38 saves help Golden Knights hold off Kings

LAS VEGAS -- Logan Thompson made an NHL career-high 38 saves, including 19 in the third period, helping the Vegas Golden Knights defeat the Los Angeles Kings 5-1 at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.

"The more reps I get, the more comfortable I get," Thompson said. "I was able to get in the game early and I definitely just kept feeding off it. The guys in front were doing a great job. It definitely made my job easier."
Alex Pietrangelo had a goal and an assist, and Jack Eichel had an assist for Vegas (34-26-4). Eichel had been doubtful to play after leaving a 5-3 win against the Florida Panthers on Thursday with an upper-body injury when he blocked a shot with his hand.
"We didn't know until almost game time (that Eichel would be available)," Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said of the center. "But he gutted it out. He's a guy who can play with some pain. That's what he's doing with a lot of other guys. It's that time of year.
"I've been really impressed with him. His battle level. His will to compete. His willingness to play a 200-foot playoff-type game for us. Now, he's willing to play through some injuries in order to be out there helping us."

Phillip Danault scored, and Cal Petersen made 19 saves for the Kings (34-22-8).
"Little details I think was the big difference," Danault said. "We played a decent game, but those mistakes we've got to make sure [aren't] as big as the ones we gave up."
Evgenii Dadonov gave the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead at 18:19 of the first period when he collected his own rebound at the right side of the net and scored on a wraparound.
Chandler Stephenson pushed the lead to 2-0 at 39 seconds of the second period with a power-play goal. He took a cross-ice pass from Eichel and beat Petersen above his right shoulder for his 15th goal, setting an NHL career high.
"I didn't have to do anything, just put my stick there," Stephenson said. "That's the kind of player [Eichel] is. He's an All-Star. You can be anywhere. Even if there are three guys, four guys in front of you, he seems to be finding you. His game seems to keep getting better and better.
"It's fun to watch."

Danault cut it to 2-1 at 11:31 at the left post off a feed from Trevor Moore, who won the puck behind the net.
"It was constant pressure from [Danault and Moore on the play]," Kings coach Todd McLellan said. "Just when the opposition seems ready to break out several times, they're out there again. It's a pair to watch, especially for the younger players."
Mattias Janmark made it 3-1 at 16:24 with a shorthanded breakaway goal off a pass from Nicolas Roy.
"You want to inject your energy and spread it through the team," said Janmark, who was playing his second game since missing 10 with an upper-body injury. "It's what I've been trying to do the last two games."
Pietrangelo made it 4-1 when he scored into an empty net at 17:32 of the third period, and Michael Amadio scored at 18:48 for the 5-1 final.
NOTES: Thompson's previous NHL high was 35 saves in a 4-1 win at the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 20. He has played seven NHL games (five starts). … Stephenson has scored 15 goals in 61 games after scoring 14 in 51 games last season. … Golden Knights defenseman Ben Hutton returned after missing three games in NHL COVID-19 protocol. He had an assist and was plus-3 in 22:25.