Subban Leads Vegas To 3-2 Win Against Devils

In his first home start of the season, Malcolm Subban made 36 saves as the Vegas Golden Knights knocked off the New Jersey Devils, 3-2, in the first game of a three-game homestand Sunday afternoon at T-Mobile Arena.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
Subban was tested early in the game and, less than five minutes into the matinee matchup, New Jersey's Nico Hischier opened the scoring after finding a pass from Jesper Bratt to make it 1-0. The Devils scored 4:31 later as Ben Lovejoy found the puck on the goal line, cut back toward the net, and put a wrister home to make it 2-0. Moments later, Ryan Reaves answered by tallying an unassisted goal of his own to get back within striking distance at 2-1. After a slow start to the second, Brayden McNabb fired the puck into the net from the blue line to tie the game. The goal was initially waved off for goalie interference, but after review, it was ruled a good goal. At 15:46 of the second, Shea Theodore threw the puck on net and got a bounce off Max Pacioretty to give the Golden Knights their first lead of the game. Vegas headed into the third having extinguished the fast New Jersey start and carried a momentum swing into the final period. After a scoreless third period, the Golden Knights closed out a 3-2 win to make it six in a row.

TURNING POINT
With 11 minutes to play in the second period, McNabb found the back of the net when he fired a sharp slapshot from the blue line. Initially, the goal was disallowed for goaltender interference against Ryan Carpenter. The Golden Knights challenged the ruling on the ice and, after further review, the call was overturned and the game was tied at 2-2.
THE GOLDEN GOAL
Alex Tuch won a puck battle behind the Devils net and sent a pass to Theodore at the point. He dodged a defender and sent a shot at the net. The puck skimmed off Pacioretty and found its way in to give Vegas its first lead of the day.
TOP PERFORMERS
Malcolm Subban: Subban was a brick wall in net after he settled down from giving up two early goals. He earned his second win in as many starts as he registered 36 saves on 38 shots.
Max Pacioretty: Pacioretty's bounce in the second period stood to be the game-winning marker. It was his second goal in two games since returning from injury.
Brayden McNabb: McNabb scored his first goal of the season in what turned out to be a major shift in momentum for Vegas.
Ben Lovejoy: The Devils defensemen recorded two points (1G, 1A) and was a key to the Devils offense.
STAT OF THE GAME
Ryan Reaves scored his eighth tally of 2018-19 to establish a new career-high in goals and points (8 goals, 14 points), besting his previous mark set in 2016-17 with the St. Louis Blues (7 goals, 13 points).
ATTENDANCE: 18,103
LOOKING AHEAD
The Golden Knights will return to action at 7 p.m. PT Tuesday to face the New York Rangers.