They did exactly that, securing a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues in a game that saw the return of a defensive pillar and the continuation of a historic scoring streak.
The Blues Challenge
The game started with a literal "bad bounce." Just 52 seconds in, a puck took a bizarre carom off the boards—what we call a "municipal bounce"—landing right on the tape of a St. Louis attacker to put the visitors up early. With Akira Schmidt making a spot start for the injured Carter Hart, it wasn't the start Vegas wanted.
However, the momentum shifted when Mark Stone did something we haven't seen in years: he dropped the gloves. The Captain’s scrap ignited the bench, and Vegas took over the shot clock and the O-zone for the remainder of the period.
Seeing Stone drop the mitts set the tone. From that point on, Vegas' puck pursuit and gap control were relentless. They didn't just win the game; we dictated the terms.
The second period belonged to the "Heat Index" leaders. Jack Eichel notched his 14th of the year to take the lead, followed by a vintage Shea Theodore wrister in his first game back after an 11-game absence. Mitch Marner acted as the primary engine, facilitating both tallies with elite vision.
Despite a late push by the Blues following a Pavel Dorofeyev minor, Stone sealed the deal with an empty-netter. That goal marks seven straight games with a tally for Stone—the longest active streak in the NHL this season.
Game changers
Mitch Marner (VGK)
The ultimate game-changer. His 46 points lead the team, and his ability to navigate high-traffic areas created the space Eichel needed to feast.
Shea Theodore (VGK)
A triumphant return. He didn't look like a player who missed 11 games, showing elite mobility and adding a crucial goal to the scoresheet.