Eichel scores first goal for Golden Knights in win against Sharks

SAN JOSE --Jack Eichel scored his first goal for the Vegas Golden Knights in a 4-1 win against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Sunday.

"It's obviously been a long time since I scored a goal, so it's a good feeling," Eichel said. "It's just part of my game. Obviously, I want to try and chip in offensively, so it's good to help contribute tonight."
Eichel, playing his third game with the Golden Knights, had not scored since Jan. 28, 2021, for the Buffalo Sabres. He was acquired in a trade Nov. 4 and had artificial disk replacement surgery on his neck Nov. 12.
He had an assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Friday.
"It just takes a little bit of pressure off him," Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer said. "I liked his game tonight. I thought every game he's taking another step and tonight he was that much better than it was in game one and two. He's starting to get more comfortable, use his speed, starting to get his timing. So good signs."

Logan Thompson made 35 saves for his first NHL win in his second NHL start, and Eichel, Chandler Stephenson, and Max Pacioretty each had a goal and an assist for Vegas (29-18-4), which had lost three straight.
"I thought he was great," DeBoer said of Thompson. "He was solid all night. The rebound control was good. He played the puck really well. He was calm, composed and he played a really good game."
Nick Bonino scored, and James Reimer made 31 saves for San Jose (22-22-5), which is 0-3-3 in its past six games.
"We had some breakdowns defensively tonight," Sharks coach Bob Boughner said. "It's a good offensive team over there, and we held them to only a couple of chances against in the second period. Just another first period where we're chasing and we're down 2-0 or [there are] a couple, I would say soft kinds of goals on us. That's not a recipe for success for our team."
Keegan Kolesar gave the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead at 10:14 of the first period. Brett Howden sent a cross-ice pass to Kolesar, who scored from the right face-off circle.
"We've got to find a way to score first in games and score more than one, or zero," Sharks forward Logan Couture said.

Eichel made it 2-0 at 14:34 on a one-timer while skating 4-on-4. Stephenson set Eichel up with a pass from behind the net.
"Jack's one of those players that when you watch him and he plays, he makes the people around him better," Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. "That's a big compliment. Obviously, when you have players like [Stephenson] and [Pacioretty] on his side he's going to make them better. The speed, the hockey sense, playing at a high level, making plays at a high speed. I know when I played against him, that's what makes him lethal offensively."
Pacioretty increased the lead to 3-0 at 1:23 of the second period when his shot hit just under the crossbar. The goal was confirmed on video review, which determined the puck completely crossed the goal line.
"We get up to a 3-0 lead and that's good, [but] I think we probably would have liked to get the next one and put it away and not be on our heels a little bit late in the game," Eichel said.

Bonino cut it to 3-1 at 10:17 of the third period. Andrew Cogliano sent a pass from behind the net and Bonino scored from one knee.
Stephenson scored into an empty net with 33 seconds remaining for the 4-1 final.
"Games get tougher to win in the second half, and teams are fighting for their lives," Boughner said. "It's the little things. If there are breakdowns and it's early in the game, you have to stay in the game, so there's a little frustration."
NOTES:Eichel scored 355 points (139 goals, 216 assists) in 375 games in six seasons with the Sabres. … Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore had two assists. … DeBoer won his 499th NHL game. He is 499-366-119 in 984 NHL games in 15 seasons with the Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils and Sharks. … The Golden Knights are 17-1-3 against the Sharks in their history and 9-0-2 at San Jose. … Sharks forward Rudolfs Balcers was minus-1 with two hits in 15:09 after missing one game with an upper-body injury.