Mitch Marner had a hand in all three goals after the second period, scoring the equalizer with 3:24 left in regulation and setting up Tomas Hertl’s overtime winner as the Vegas Golden Knights rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena.
Marner finished with a goal and two primary assists, his third three-point game of the season. Hertl’s power-play goal at 2:11 of overtime capped the comeback and snapped the Knights’ three-game losing streak.
“We just (had) to step it up, play with more desperation,” Marner said. “I thought we did that in the next 40. Our thirds have been really good.”
Vegas trailed 3-1 entering the third period after Detroit scored two goals in 59 seconds late in the second. The Knights had lost their previous three games and were 5-16-9 when trailing after two periods.
Ivan Barbashev pulled Vegas within one at 11:37 of the third, and Marner tied it at 16:36. Goaltender Adin Hill made 23 saves.
“We’re not used to losing this many,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Typically it doesn’t sit well with our guys when we don’t get into the win column. Good to see them respond.”
Reilly Smith opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game, but the Red Wings answered with three straight. Detroit (35-20-7) held a 3-1 lead after two periods.
Hertl nearly cost the Knights in regulation, taking a tripping penalty with 2:33 left, but the penalty kill unit went 4-for-4 on the night. Detroit’s Mason Appleton had a potential game-winner waved off with 16 seconds left after batting the puck in with his hand.
“Not a good penalty in hindsight,” Cassidy said. “Those are going to happen. It’s a working penalty. After you’ve come back from two goals, it’s one you just put your head down and come back through the middle. Good for Tomas. He made a good play. He just didn’t throw it at the goalie.”
The Knights finished their five-game road trip 2-3 and improved to 6-16-9 when trailing entering the third period. They return home to face the Minnesota Wild on Friday, which is also the NHL trade deadline.
Vegas acquired forward Cole Smith from Nashville on Tuesday, and he played 14:13 in his debut. General manager Kelly McCrimmon is expected to make additional moves before the deadline.
