FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Penguins - Game 60

But less than three minutes into the second period, Pittsburgh doubled its lead with a goal from Jeff Carter. Pittsburgh capitalized on a Vegas turnover, and the Golden Knights got caught in a bad change. Brossoit made the initial save on the ensuing breakaway, but he couldn’t find the puck before Carter scored on the rebound.

However, the second period was otherwise a much better frame for Vegas, as the Golden Knights had the clear edge in shots (22-7) this time around.

Less than two minutes after the Carter goal, Jack Eichel cut the deficit to one with his fourth of the year.

Pacioretty raced to a loose puck at the side of the net and threw it into the slot; it took a few bounces, including hitting the stick of goaltender Tristan Jarry, but Eichel put home the rebound to make it 2-1.

Exactly four minutes later, the Golden Knights evened things up at 2-2. The Golden Knights looked much better during a stretch of 4-on-4 play, and Alex Pietrangelo capped it off with his eighth off the year off a pretty dish from Jonathan Marchessault. It was his second primary assist of the night.

The goal snapped a 12-game goal drought for Pietrangelo.

The Golden Knights finished the frame with eight high-danger chances (compared to just one in the first). Pacioretty was not on the bench to start the third; he appeared to be playing through something in Buffalo as well, and he was unable to finish last night’s contest.

Even so, the Golden Knights were tied at 2-2 against a strong Pittsburgh club and had all the momentum after a strong middle frame. But they did not score again; instead, the Penguins lit the lamp three more times. Just under four minutes in, defenseman Mark Friedman scored the third goal of his career to regain the lead for the Penguins at 3-2.

That proved to be the game-winner.

The Golden Knights had multiple power-play opportunities in the third and could have tied the game; instead, they only recorded two shots, and the Penguins had a better chance and hit the post while shorthanded. Eventually, the Golden Knights took a penalty that helped the Penguins pot the insurance marker.

Bryan Rust scored on the power play to make it 4-2 at 14:49. Evan Rodrigues iced the game with an empty-net goal just under three minutes after that. Brossoit recorded 29 saves on 33 shots for a -2.44 goals saved above expected, per Natural Stat Trick.

But it was the power play that let down the Golden Knights. Brossoit gave the Golden Knights a chance to win this game, and Vegas played well enough to come away with at least one point. But Vegas was unable to capitalize at key moments, including on back-to-back power plays in the third.