Las Vegas, Nevada: Golden Knights Beat Senators 4 to 1 as Lavoie Scores His First NHL Goal

Raphael Lavoie scored his first NHL goal midway through the third period on Tuesday night, and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Ottawa Senators 4 to 1 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to end a three game losing streak.

Lavoie was not supposed to play. He expected to be a healthy scratch, but goaltender Carter Hart was hurt at the morning skate with an injury the team did not disclose. Adin Hill started in net in place of Hart, Cameron Whitehead was recalled from Henderson of the American Hockey League to back Hill up, and Jonas Rondbjerg was assigned to Henderson. Lavoie took the open spot in the forward lines.

"I was not thinking of playing tonight," Lavoie said. "I was not in the lineup, and then suddenly, just before I left the rink, they told me I was playing."

Hill holds Vegas in the game

Ottawa outshot Vegas 11 to 4 in the first period, and Hill kept the game scoreless. Early in the second period he dove across his crease and stretched out an arm to stop a back door one timer from Tim Stutzle. Later in the period Hill raced out toward the right circle to poke the puck away from Ridly Greig on a breakaway.

Vegas scored first late in the second period. Braeden Bowman tapped in the rebound of an Ivan Barbashev shot on the power play, in front of the crease, for a 1 to 0 lead.

A tied game, then a first goal

Ottawa tied the game in the opening minute of the third period. Shane Pinto scored on the power play, going in on a breakaway and beating Hill low on the glove side.

Lavoie broke the tie at 8:01 of the third. He finished the rebound of a Ville Heinola shot on a 3 on 2 rush and put Vegas ahead 2 to 1. Nic Dowd picked up an assist on the goal, his 200th NHL point, and Heinola recorded an assist in his Golden Knights debut.

"There are certain things that you have to do to get opportunities to score goals," Lavoie said. He was playing his 27th NHL game and his 10th game this season.

Vegas closed the game with two empty net goals. William Karlsson scored on a breakaway with two minutes left, and Jack Eichel scored on a backhand shot from the blue line with seven seconds to go. Eichel's goal was his seventh of the season and his 20th point. Mitch Marner extended his point streak to eight games.

Hill finished with 25 saves and his fifth win of the season. Jonas Johansson stopped 25 shots for Ottawa, which opened a five game road trip with the loss and has alternated wins and losses for eight games.

"Hilly was real good," Golden Knights coach Ryan Craig said. "He looked solid back there. He looked like he was prepared and ready to play and good on him. As for Lavy, he takes advantage of an opportunity. Sometimes that is what happens, right? You do not think about it. You just go out and play."

The win moved Vegas to 9-4-1 and kept the Golden Knights on top of the Pacific Division with 19 points. Ottawa fell to 8-5-0.