3 takeaways from Knights’ win: Center breaks out against Kings

Tomas Hertl knew he needed to be patient and the offense would come.

The floodgates opened for the Golden Knights’ center on Tuesday.

Hertl had two goals and two assists, tying a career-high with four points, and the Knights snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena.

It was Hertl’s first four-point game since Jan. 17, 2022, as a member of the San Jose Sharks. That game also came against the Kings.

“I’m more happy, not about the points, but a great win and great performance from our team,” Hertl said.

Captain Mark Stone added a goal and two assists Tuesday. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo had three assists for the Knights (4-2-1), who improved to 4-0 at home. Goaltender Ilya Samsonov made 32 saves in his second straight start.

The Knights returned home frustrated after letting two third-period leads turn into losses against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday and the Florida Panthers on Saturday.

They got back to their game against the Kings (3-2-2). The Knights scored three times in the first period, twice on the power play. Hertl led the way.

Hertl opened the scoring 9:07 into the first period after he followed up his own rebound on the man advantage for a 1-0 lead.

The Knights’ second power play lasted 14 seconds. Defenseman Noah Hanifin’s shot was deflected by Hertl, then Stone got a piece of the puck before it went into the net to put the team up 2-0 with 6:09 left in the first.

Right wing Pavel Dorofeyev scored on a rebound 1:21 later, off an assist from Hertl, to make it 3-0.

Hertl, who came into Tuesday with three points on the season, matched that output in the first 20 minutes.

“I think he knew that he needed to bring a little more offensively. It’s not like he’s not trying. It just takes a while to click,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “He got going a little bit there.”

That was all the offensive support Samsonov needed. His shutout bid was ended by left wing Warren Foegele with 53 seconds remaining in the second period, but it was another solid effort from the netminder.

Samsonov has a .943 save percentage through his first three starts with the Knights.

“I wish we could’ve given (Samsonov) the shutout because he deserved it and he was the best player on our team tonight,” Hertl said.

Right wing Alexander Holtz scored his first goal with the Knights just 2:59 into the third period to make it 4-1. Hertl scored his second goal 5:27 later. Left wing Ivan Barbashev concluded the scoring with 6:35 remaining.

The Knights’ four-game homestand is off to a great start. They’re back in action Friday against the Ottawa Senators at 3 p.m.

Here are three takeaways from the win:

1. Korczak’s season debut

Defenseman Shea Theodore was a late scratch due to an illness, which paved the way for defenseman Kaedan Korczak to make his season debut.

Korczak, 23, recorded an assist on Dorofeyev’s goal for his first point since Jan. 22. Korczak has 12 points in 38 career NHL games.

Korczak was told around 4:50 p.m. that he was going in. A “big napper,” Korczak was nervous to skip his pregame nap. He balanced it with a large coffee.

“It was a little bit of a whirlwind there,” Korczak said.

He signed a two-year contract with an $825,000 average annual value July 1 with the hopes of becoming an everyday NHL defenseman. He had to wait for his opportunity this season, but he continues to be productive when called upon.

2. Power play strikes again

The Knights continue to strike on the man advantage.

They scored two power-play goals on two opportunities Tuesday, making them 7-for-19 (36.8 percent) on the season. That’s the fourth-best mark in the NHL. The Knights have scored at least one power-play goal in five of their seven games.

“Good power play,” Hertl said. “It’s been really good so far this season.”

The team also started hot on the man advantage last year.

The Knights went 11-for-43 (25.5 percent) during last season’s 11-0-1 start and scored a power-play goal in seven of those 12 games.

3. Huge penalty kill

The Knights’ penalty kill also had a strong day, going 4-for-4 against the Kings.

It saved its best for late in the second period.

Samsonov made three saves and the Knights blocked three shots to kill a four-minute high sticking penalty on defenseman Nic Hague. The goaltender capped off the sequence by making an impressive stop on Foegele in front.

The Knights entered Tuesday with the NHL’s 27th-ranked penalty kill at 69.2 percent, so their performance against the Kings may give them confidence moving forward.