On Saturday, the Vegas Golden Knights (11-6-8) played the third of a four-game homestand against the San Jose Sharks (12-11-3). They allowed the first goal but bounced back to score the next four. After allowing the Sharks to get back in the game with two late second-period goals, they bore down and held on for a 4-3 win.
Despite starting well, the Golden Knights again allowed the first goal; the Sharks broke the ice at 7:34 in the first. They had a flurry of chances in San Jose’s end, but when they couldn’t convert, it cost them. Tyler Toffoli sprung Will Smith, who blew by Shea Theodore and beat Carl Lindbom far side.
The age old tale: Golden Knights can’t convert, and their opponent goes right back the other way and scores. Tyler Toffoli sends a stretch pass to Will Smith, who welcomes the Golden Knights to earth.
1-0, Sharks
— Hannah Kirkell (@h_kirk6) November 30, 2025
Undeterred, the Golden Knights renewed their push and found the equalizer at 16:13 in the first period. After some extended offensive zone time, Pavel Dorofeyev lost the puck in the slot. Tomáš Hertl got to it first and fired a shot past Alex Nedeljkovic.
Apart from a few at the end of the period, the Golden Knights controlled the second. They outshot the Sharks 10-9 and generated 14 scoring chances to San Jose’s 10.
The Golden Knights took the lead 5:36 into the second period and, despite a Sharks push, didn’t look back. Cole Reinhardt forced a turnover in the defensive zone, and the Golden Knights raced up ice on a 4-on-1. Keegan Kolesar took the shot, and Colton Sissons crashed the net and potted the rebound.
The fourth line scored a goal! Colton Sissons crashes the net and bangs in Keegan Kolesar’s rebound for his first as a Golden Knight.
2-1, Golden Knights
— Hannah Kirkell (@h_kirk6) November 30, 2025
The Golden Knights doubled their lead at 7:02 in the second. Brett Howden entered the zone and found Mitch Marner cutting up ice with speed. Marner blew around Shakir Mukhamadullin and stuffed the puck past Alex Nedeljkovic on a wraparound.
At 12:38 in the second, the Golden Knights extended their lead on the power play. Mitch Marner fired a wrister from the point, and Tomáš Hertl redirected it past Nedeljkovic from between the hash marks.
Just over a minute later, the Golden Knights suffered a brief collapse. Cole Reinhardt took a penalty at 14:06 in the second, and the Sharks made them pay.
On the ensuing power play, the Sharks cut the Golden Knights’ lead to two. Instead of clearing the puck, Keegan Kolesar held it and tried to pass to Brayden McNabb through traffic. Macklin Celebrini got a stick on Kolesar’s pass attempt, and the puck found its way to Will Smith all alone atop the crease. Smith didn’t miss.
Keegan Kolesar with a bad turnover. Macklin Celebrini finds Will Smith all alone in front of the net, and Agent J’s got two.
4-2, Golden Knights
— Hannah Kirkell (@h_kirk6) November 30, 2025
Five minutes later, the Sharks made it a one-goal game. Alexander Holtz lost a board battle to Mario Ferraro at center ice, and Adam Gaudette sprung William Eklund on a breakaway. Eklund blew past Zach Whitecloud and Tomáš Hertl and went forehand-backhand to beat Carl Lindbom five-hole.
Alexander Holtz loses a board battle, badly. William Eklund gets loose and just like that, San Jose’s back in this thing.
4-3, Golden Knights
— Hannah Kirkell (@h_kirk6) November 30, 2025
In the third period, the Golden Knights hunkered down defensively. They defended their blue line, standing Sharks players up to prevent zone entries. They played well in front of Lindbom and held the Sharks to just five shots.
The Sharks pulled Alex Nedeljkovic for the extra attacker with 1:42 remaining in regulation, but the Golden Knights rose to the task. Despite taking a late penalty, they held on for the 4-3 win.
Three stars of the game: Tomáš Hertl, Mitch Marner, Carl Lindbom
7 Golden Knights Observations
1. The Golden Knights allowed the first goal for the 16th time this season. After today’s regulation win, they have a record of 5-5-6 when allowing the first goal.
2. Heading into tonight, the fourth line desperately needed to score. They’ve had countless looks over the past few weeks, but between posts and exceptional goaltending, they just couldn’t buy a goal. The dam finally broke tonight, and they were rewarded with a gritty, hardworking goal.
3. Cole Reinhardt and Alexander Holtz drew back into the lineup tonight in place of Reilly Smith and Brandon Saad. Other than taking a costly penalty in the second period, Reinhardt played very well. It’ll be hard for Cassidy to take him out of the lineup on Tuesday.
4. It’s difficult to imagine Reinhardt exiting the lineup on Tuesday, but the same can’t be said for Alexander Holtz. He struggled defensively and was partially responsible for San Jose’s third goal.
5. Mitch Marner has been quiet for the past few games, but he was fantastic tonight, scoring a goal and recording the primary assist on Tomáš Hertl’s game-winner. He and Mark Stone are really starting to build some chemistry, and Brett Howden complements them well with his speed and forechecking. In 11:31 at 5-on-5, their line outshot their opponents 5-2.
6. It’s insane how much better Mark Stone makes the Golden Knights’ power play. They went 1-for-2 on the night. Even on the opportunity they didn’t convert, they stayed in the zone for nearly the entire two minutes and generated momentum.
7. After seven starts, young Carl Lindbom finally recorded his first NHL win. You could see how excited his teammates were for him– they all mobbed him after the final horn.
“It was awesome,” said Colton Sissons postgame. “He’s such a good kid, and he works so hard. He’s played some really damn good games for us. Yeah, we were stoked for him.”