Golden Knights defeat Canucks in OT, retake second wild card in West

VANCOUVER -- Robin Lehner made 26 saves in his return from a lower-body injury to help the Vegas Golden Knights defeat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in overtime at Rogers Arena on Sunday.

Lehner, who was playing for the first time since March 8 (missed 12 games), stopped Bo Horvat on a breakaway 10 seconds into overtime. Shea Theodore then won it at 2:05 when he scored on a 3-on-1 off a pass from Jonathan Marchessault.
"He played great," Theodore said of Lehner. "Real solid in his first game back and just shows what kind of goalie he is."
Marchessault had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights (39-28-4), who have won five straight games and are 10-0-2 against the Canucks in their history.
Vegas moved one point ahead of the Dallas Stars, who have three games in hand, for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. Vancouver is eight points behind Vegas.
"We need two points every night," said Vegas forward Chandler Stephenson. "Just got to stay calm and collected and have the confidence you're going to win a game. … It's a playoff mindset for the rest of the year and from here on out."

J.T. Miller and Horvat scored in the third period to tie the game, and Thatcher Demko made 27 saves for the Canucks (32-28-10), who have lost three in a row.
"It's frustrating. We need every point we can get at this point," said Horvat, who was also stopped by Lehner on a shorthanded breakaway late in the first period. "I tried shooting quick on my break in the first period, and I wanted to change it up [in overtime], and he made another great save. If I score that game is over."
Vegas took a 1-0 lead at 6:51 of the first period after Stephenson won an offensive-zone face-off to Jack Eichel, who passed across to defenseman Alex Pietrangelo for a shot over Demko's shoulder from below the left face-off dot.
Marchessault made it 2-0 at 12:31, using defenseman Travis Dermott as a screen to shoot over Demko's glove from the hash marks on a solo rush from center ice.
"I don't know why we don't start on time," Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau said. "They had us at 10-1 in shots. I think teams know this and come out flying and we should be able to know that, hey, we've got to hold off and play hard for the first period."

Miller scored 1:42 into the third period to make it 2-1 on a one-timer from the slot.
Vancouver tied it 2-2 at 9:42 as the first penalty on a 5-on-3 power play expired. Horvat was credited with the goal despite losing the face-off to William Karlsson when Vegas defenseman Alec Martinez tipped the rolling puck between Lehner's legs as he dropped to one knee to play it.
"It's probably one of the luckiest goals I've scored," Horvat said. "Fortunate play at a fortunate time of the game. It definitely helped us get a point, but at the end of the day, we have to find a way to get that second one."
Marchessault liked how the team responded after giving up the lead.
"To be honest, we did that to ourselves. They played a good game, but we gave them that," Marchessault said. "It's unfortunate, but I think good teams at this time of the year find a way to win hockey games, and that's what we did."
NOTES: Theodore has scored in three straight games. ... Marchessault scored for the third straight game and extended his point streak to five games (three goals, seven assists). … Vegas dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen, with Dylan Coghlan playing a game-low 3:35 as the extra defenseman. … Canucks defenseman Tucker Poolman returned after missing 26 games with a head injury but left after playing 4:25 in the first period. Boudreau said it was a recurrence of the original injury and he would be reevaluated on Monday. … Vancouver forward Jason Dickinson had two shots playing 12:43 in his first game back after missing 16 games with a lower-body injury. … Canucks center Brad Richardson missed the game with a stomach illness.