Offensive explosion leads Golden Knights past Ducks

LAS VEGAS -- The Vegas Golden Knights scored five goals in the third period of a 7-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday.

"The puck just went in (the third period)," Golden Knights forward William Carrier said. "We had a couple of good looks there. Even the power play hit the post and stuff. Couple of guys were due to score. We just came off the jump with the energy in the building. We wanted to make sure we came out and played well. Since the beginning of the year, it's been on and off here at home (15-13-0)."
Shea Theodore, Jack Eichel, Michael Amadio, Carrier and Phil Kessel each had a goal and an assist for Vegas (31-18-4), which has won three straight since the All-Star break.
"You come out of the break, you're refreshed and that mental weight is gone. It's kind of like you're starting over," Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. "The guys are feeling it right now."
Adin Hill made 23 saves.
"[Defense] is doing a good job. They're blocking some shots," Hill said. "We have arguably, I would say, the best D core in the League, so it's nice to see them. Everyone is healthy and back. They're playing well."

ANA@VGK: Cotter gives Golden Knights a 1-0 lead

Isac Lundestrom had a goal and an assist, and John Gibson made 32 saves for Anaheim (17-31-6), which has lost two straight.
"Not good," Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. "Vegas got a couple of hardworking, good bounce goals. Then we fell apart, trying to do somebody else's job. Everybody else's job in our zone."
Paul Cotter gave the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead at 2:08 of the first period on a rebound in the right circle.
Brett Howden made it 2-0 at 8:07 of the second period from the left hash marks off a pass from below the goal line by Keegan Kolesar.
Frank Vatrano cut the lead to 2-1 at 16:03 on a rebound in front.
Hill then made a stop on Ryan Strome on a breakaway at 2:47 of the third to keep Vegas in front.
"Big save on the breakaway. Timely save," Cassidy said. "Big, big save. It's probably going to be forgotten about in a 7-2 game. So we got the timely save."

Theodore pushed it to 3-1 at 6:40, one-timing a pass from Amadio above the circles as Gibson was scrambling to get back into position.
Kessel made it 4-1 at 8:11 on a rebound, and Eichel extended it to 5-1 at 11:53 when he roofed a shot over Gibson's right shoulder from the bottom of the left circle.
Lundestrom made it 5-2 at 13:34, but Amadio scored 49 seconds later to push it to 6-2.
Carrier scored at 15:42 for the 7-2 final.
"We've seen some good balance recently. Tonight, after we made 4-1, every line scored," Cassidy said. "Every line is on the sheet, and that's a coach's dream. When they all produce, they all feel good about their game."
NOTES:Golden Knights forwards Reilly Smith and William Karlsson each had two assists. … Cotter has scored 10 goals this season.