Vegas Golden Knights finish road trip with 4-1 win over Sabres

Tomas Hertl scored two goals in the third period to lead the Vegas Golden Knights past the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Sunday. The victory marked the third straight win for the Golden Knights, who completed their road trip with a record of 3-0-1.

Mitch Marner opened the scoring for Vegas at 12:17 of the second period. He tallied a short-handed goal after a turnover by Tage Thompson. Jack Eichel extended the lead one minute and 26 seconds later, scoring his eighth goal of the season.

Eichel, who was the Sabres’ first-round draft pick in 2015 before being traded to Vegas in 2021, holds a career record of seven goals and three assists in eight games against Buffalo. The Golden Knights defense remained solid, with Adin Hill making 27 saves to secure the shutout effort.

The Sabres responded in the third period when Beck Malenstyn cut the deficit to 2-1. He scored his first goal of the season during a goalmouth scrum at 4:26. However, Hertl restored the two-goal cushion just 1:17 later. His second goal of the game, and ninth of the season, made it 4-1 at the 10:00 mark.

Colten Ellis made 21 saves for Buffalo, which has lost two of its last three games. The Sabres will conclude a four-game homestand against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night. Vegas begins a five-game homestand against the Utah Mammoth on the same evening.

The Golden Knights enter their break with momentum following a road trip that included wins against Pittsburgh and Boston. Hertl’s late-game scoring in recent matches has been a key factor in the team's recent surge. The schedule now shifts to home ice, where both teams look to adjust their rosters for the upcoming slate.

Vegas will face Utah in the opening match of its homestand. Buffalo’s next opponent, Tampa Bay, provides a different test for the Sabres’ defense. The Golden Knights will rely on their current offensive depth to maintain their winning streak on home ice.