Eichel scores with 5.2 seconds left, Golden Knights defeat Senators

Jack Eichel scored with 5.2 seconds left in the third period to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 2-1 win against the Ottawa Senators at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Eichel broke a tie with a wrist shot from the left face-off dot on a power play. He has scored six points (three goals, three assists) in his first nine games with the Golden Knights, who acquired him in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 4.
''That's what you miss, just making a difference,'' Eichel said. ''You're just trying to help the team win. As a competitor, you miss competing and being out there and having moments like that, helping win hockey games.''
Jonathan Marchessault had a goal and an assist, and Robin Lehner made 39 saves for the Golden Knights (32-21-4), who have won three of their past four games.
"It's kind of the first time I've been in a situation like this where every game means something," Eichel said. "Every team seems to be winning and you just need to keep trying to find two points every night."

Anton Forsberg made 40 saves, including 17 in the first period, for the Senators (19-31-5). They have lost five in a row.
"I didn't dislike anyone's game," Ottawa coach D.J. Smith said. "I thought everyone played hard. Forsberg was outstanding, so was Lehner. We easily could've gotten ourselves a win."
Marchessault scored at 6:46 of the second period to give Vegas a 1-0 lead. He blocked a shot from Senators defenseman Erik Brannstrom, went in on a breakaway and scored with a wrist shot into the top right corner.
"It was a must-win tonight," Marchessault said. "We're chasing a couple teams and we want to make it to the playoffs. It's that time of year that good teams find a way to win, and tonight we did."
Brady Tkachuk tied it 1-1 on the power play at 8:53. Lehner saved Tkachuk's initial shot, but the puck went into the net while he tried to cover it.
"It stings," Tkachuk said. "We put in such a good effort there. It just [stinks]. … For that effort, nine out of 10 times you're going to win that game; it's just that one time where it didn't go our way. But that's what successful teams do, is put in the work day in and day out, whether it's practices or games. We're going to learn from that."

Lehner made 16 saves in the third period.
"Even though they had a lot of shots and some chances in the third, I think we were a little more patient than some other nights," Lehner said. "I think some of our losses could've been wins lately. We've just got to get back to our Vegas swagger and confidence and just know we're going to win."
NOTES:The Golden Knights have won their past six games against the Senators; Marchessault has scored 11 points (six goals, five assists) in eight games against them. … Vegas outshot Ottawa 17-15 in a scoreless first period. … Senators goalie Matt Murray was placed on injured reserve before the game, and
Filip Gustavsson
was recalled from Belleville of the American Hockey League and backed up Forsberg. Smith did not have an update on Murray's status. … Ottawa defenseman Nick Holden had five hits and blocked four shots in 21:29 of ice time in his return to Vegas; he scored 31 points (nine goals, 22 assists) in 139 games for the Golden Knights from 2018-21. … Lehner is 10-0-3 in his career against the Senators.