Golden Knights win sixth straight at home, defeat Sharks 7-3 in Karlsson’s debut

The Vegas Golden Knights (6-2-1) extended their home winning streak to six games with a dominant 7-3 showing against the San Jose Sharks (0-7-2) Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

William Karlsson made his season debut, and he did not disappoint.

Karlsson finished the game with the game-winning goal, an assist, a plus-two rating, three shots and two blocks in 13:58.

But it was a complete team effort by Vegas, which improved to 6-0-0 at home this season for the best start on home ice in franchise history.

Karlsson helped the Golden Knights score on their first shot of the game, setting up linemate Tanner Pearson in the slot to lift Vegas to a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the contest.

TANNER TIMEEEE pic.twitter.com/zwOT9LxL2s It was the Golden Knights fourth goal on four consecutive shots going back to Fridays win against Ottawa, and it was Karlssons first shift of the season.

It was a full-line goal, as Alexander Holtz extended his scoring streak to three games with the secondary helper on the play.

Vegas doubled its lead on a Jack Eichel one-timer less than two minutes after that.

is it a reach if we try and say Jack Eich-goal? pic.twitter.com/wokiJPCXpx Vegas added another goal in the opening frame courtesy of Brett Howden.

It was a great play all-around, starting with a great deke and stretch pass by Shea Theodore, a touch pass by Pavel Dorofeyev and a cross-ice feed from Tomas Hertl to set up the cutting Howden.

Net Front Brett pic.twitter.com/tXIHWlA2Da It was Hertls first point against his former team.

The Golden Knights outshot the Sharks 22-4 in the opening 20 minutes and took a 3-0 lead into intermission.

The Sharks leading scorer got San Jose on the board midway through the second period, as Mikael Granlund scored his fourth of the year to make it a 3-1 game.

Granny gets us on the board! pic.twitter.com/ZOcuG7oPuT San Jose had a chance to cut the deficit to one with a power play seven seconds later.

However, Karlsson had other ideas.

Instead, he struck shorthanded 50 seconds later to restore the three-goal edge, beating Sharks netminder Vitek Vanecek to a loose puck and then creating an angle to hit the empty net.

It was his franchise-best 13th shorthanded goal with the Golden Knights.

WE DON'T CALL HIM WILD BILL 4 NOTHIN' pic.twitter.com/syqoEzdkST Dorofeyev stretched the lead even further with his fourth of the season with just 34 seconds left in the period, as Theodore faked a shot and then found Dorofeyev on the power play.

do us a favor and look at Pav's birthday goal again pic.twitter.com/y6CeoKcU9o But San Jose had the last word in the second period just 15 seconds later, as Nico Sturm buried his first of the year with just 19 seconds left in the frame.

Nico Sturm gets one back.

pic.twitter.com/jcBLO3Eu6p The two clubs combined for three more goals in the third period, starting with the Golden Knights captain, who found twine off a gorgeous behind-the-back feed from Eichel.

Mark Stone sneaks one by Vitek Vanecek to add to the Vegas tally late in the third period.

pic.twitter.com/2Z5XJO6QJW Mark Stones fourth of the season gave him 17 points on the year, moving him into first place in NHL scoring.

Luke Kunin answered, beating Ilya Samsonov on a rebound.

We're still fighting.

pic.twitter.com/eONCDHK7Z5 But Howden struck once again on Vegas 40th shot of the night on a gorgeous passing play by the second line.

It was Howdens fifth goal of the season, and it marked the first two-goal game in the regular season of his NHL career.

BIG two-goal knight for Brett Howden pic.twitter.com/nz9e4uMpn4 Hertl tallied the secondary assist on the play, giving him two points against his former team in a lopsided 7-3 victory.

It was an absolute thrashing by the Golden Knights, who got multi-point efforts from seven different players.

The top three lines demonstrated excellent chemistry, and 11 different players found the scoresheet.

The Golden Knights needed a better start, and they delivered, scoring two goals in the first four minutes of the contest.

Karlsson was a difference-maker starting on his first shift, as he got things going with his setup on Pearsons goal.

Karlsson said it was easy to play with Pearson.

Its always nice when youre kind of on the same page, and even though we never skated before, he was easy, so that stood out, Karlsson said.

Somtimes you just kind of have that chemistry, and tonight we did.

The first period felt like an extended power play.

Vegas held a 31-11 edge in Corsi and 16-5 edge in scoring chances, managed an 88.43 expected goal share, outshot San Jose 22-4 and outscored the Sharks 3-0.

We played well; its probably our best single period of the season, head coach Bruce Cassidy said.

From there, I thought the game took care of itself.

I loved our start.

Managing the puck, we made good decisions to get through the neutral zone.

When we couldnt, we made good decisions to get it behind them and go get it back.

Line changes, you name it, I thought we did a pretty good job with everything.

Vegas scored two more in the second and third periods in a balanced, consistent effort, and both special teams units lit the lamp as well.

One of those goals was another memorable shorthanded goal by Karlsson against the Sharks.

I kind of felt that that didnt have too much mustard on it and kind of stopped there, Karlsson said, describing the goal as a special and unusual moment.

I got there before their goalie, just waited, waited.

I wanted to hit [Pearson] but I didnt feel like it, and then I shot it, and luckily it went in.

At the end of the day, only so much can be said about the win, since the Sharks entered the game on an 0-6-2 start to the season.

That being said, the Golden Knights came out with a game plan and executed to perfection.

At no point was Vegas not in control, and it was another offensive explosion at home.

Through six games at T-Mobile Arena, the Golden Knights have scored 34 goals, and they combined for 13 goals in their first back-to-back of the year.

At a minimum, it should contribute to the teams growing confidence, especially now that Vegas has bounced back from the 0-2-1 road trip with three straight wins.

Alex Pietrangelo recorded two assists for his third consecutive multi-point game, giving him eight helpers in his last three games.

Its just luck, he said after the game.

Stone and Dorofeyev finished the night with three points apiece, while Karlsson, Eichel, Hertl and Howden came away with two.

Ilya Samsonov picked up his third win of the year with 23 saves on 26 shots for an .885 save percentage.

The Golden Knights looked like a more complete team, and Karlsson had a lot to do with that.

Its never fun to sit on the side, he said.

Its never fun to have an injury either.

...

Super happy to be back.

The Golden Knights will wrap up this four-game homestand Monday against Calgary.

Statistics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick ..

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