The Golden Knights earned it — the game and the expected-goals battle both.
Vegas dominated the underlying play and turned it into an even uglier scoreline. The Knights held 62 percent of shot attempts (38 to 23) and 61 percent of expected goals (4.38 to 2.84), margins that should have predicted a comfortable win—but not 6–2.
The gap came from goaltending. Hart stopped 21 of 23 (0.913 SV%), beating his expected performance by 0.84 goals. Hellebuyck, facing a harder workload, managed 32 saves on 38 (0.842 SV%) and surrendered 1.62 more goals than expected. That gap in save percentage cascaded through the entire game.
Vegas turned its control into scoring by attacking the rush. They scored six goals on 26 rush chances—more than half their total. Their power play was equally clinical: two goals on 25 power-play shots (1.74 xG expected), converting their most dangerous looks. Winnipeg's rebound creation was competent—four rebound chances, one converted—but too late.
By the time the Jets mounted anything resembling a response, the Knights had built an insurmountable lead. Scheifele kept Winnipeg's hope alive with a goal and assist, but underlying percentages don't come back from four goals down.
Three Stars
- J. Eichel (VGK)—1G, 3A
- M. Stone (VGK)—1G, 2A
- M. Scheifele (WPG)—1G, 1A