LAS VEGAS — The Vegas Golden Knights stormed back from three goals down to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in a shootout, headlining Thursday's 10-game slate that saw 20 teams in action and big nights for Logan Stankoven and Mikko Rantanen. Carolina Hurricanes cruised to a 7-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks and the Dallas Stars blanked the Buffalo Sabres 4-0 on a night of comebacks and statement performances.
Everything looked in control for Toronto after they scored three times in the opening 10 minutes of their difficult three-game road trip, but Vegas answered with three of their own and took charge thereafter. The Golden Knights outshot the Maple Leafs 21-8 in the second period and ultimately forced overtime and the shootout, where rookie Trevor Connelly sealed the 4-3 win. Toronto still salvaged a point thanks to Sergei Bobrovsky, with the 38-year-old making 40 saves in a display that has come as advertised in his short tenure with the Maple Leafs.
At the Bell Centre, the Nashville Predators also overturned a 2-0 deficit against the Montreal Canadiens with five straight goals to complete their comeback. Juuse Saros made 32 saves for the Predators and has now made the most saves of any goaltender so far this season with 120, posting a .916 save percentage while starting all four of their matches.
Elsewhere, Stankoven led the Carolina Hurricanes with his first career hat-trick in the 7-2 victory over Vancouver, scoring an even-strength, power-play and short-handed goal. Rantanen dominated for Dallas with a four-point effort in the 4-0 win over Buffalo. Both players were famously traded for each other two seasons ago in a blockbuster deal that sent shockwaves throughout the NHL.
It is doubtful that Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky thought his side would be getting better when parting ways with Rantanen, but Stankoven was a key part of their Stanley Cup run last season. Stars general manager Jim Nill will also be happy with how things have turned out, with Rantanen a key offensive contributor throughout the regular season and play-offs and his value only reinforced if Dallas cannot come to terms on an extension with winger Jason Robertson beyond this season.