CALGARY— When Akira Schmid manned the crease to start the second period for the Vegas Golden Knights, it naturally spurred on plenty of confused reactions.

During the first period, starting goaltender Adin Hill took a shot from Calgary Flames forward Matt Coronato that removed his mask, than saved another shot from Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson that appeared to hit him in the knee. Hill shook it off and finished the period, but it was later revealed that he was out with a lower body injury.

“I don’t know where Adin will end up right now in terms of, obviously he’s got a lower-body injury. I don’t know how serious it will be,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said in his postgame presser.

It is another injury to add to a growing pile of early ones for the Golden Knights, as defenseman Noah Hanifin has not played since the season opener against the Los Angeles Kings, and forward Brett Howden was announced as day-to-day prior to puck drop.

Down 2-0 after goals from Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman and now starting a cold goaltender, all seemed lost for the Golden Knights.

But then, something wondrous happened.

In two periods of action, Schmid impressed with 19 saves, including a great chance in front of the net at the end of the second period.

“Sometimes those games are almost easier where you just get thrown in,” Schmid said. “I think after the first goal, we just started rolling from there. And then the third period, I think we were pretty much the better team the whole period.”

As Schmid began to roll, the Golden Knights did their part to rally in front of their new goaltender.

It started midway through the second period, when forward Jack Eichel was able to bury his own rebound past Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf.

It would ultimately set the stage for the best period of Golden Knights hockey so far in the young season.

Early on, defenseman Kaedan Korczak was able to hustle for a loose puck sent out in the middle of the ice by Tomas Hertl and Mitch Marner. Korczak then found a way to hit a perfect shot on the top corner above Wolf’s right shoulder to become an unlikely hero and tie the game at two goals apiece.

Eichel would notch the game-winner shortly after, cutting his way in front of the net again and beating Wolf to get his second goal of the game and fourth on the year.

“I liked a lot of things in our third period,” Eichel said. “Obviously we continued to attack and were able to tie it up and then get the lead. A lot of credit to the guys, a lot of resiliency tonight.”

Hertl’s empty net goal with just seconds to go clinched Vegas’s first regulation win on the season, pushing their record to 2-0-2 and giving them six points in the first four games.

The Golden Knights now look to keep the momentum going back at T-Mobile Arena when they face the Boston Bruins on Thursday.

However, Schmid’s play now has the chance to create an opportunity for himself to prove he can be a franchise goaltender at the NHL level.

Regardless of who backs him up, be it Henderson Silver Knights prospect Carl Lindbom or rumored free agent signing Carter Hart when he first becomes eligible on Dec. 1, Schmid will get the first crack at keeping the team afloat while Hill recovers.

After his heroics against the Flames, he has at least earned that much.