Eichel scores first Vegas goal in win over Sharks

Jack Eichel had a goal and an assist and Logan Thompson made 35 saves to pick up his first NHL win, leading the visiting Vegas Golden Knights to a 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night.

Eichel, obtained in a Nov. 4 trade with Buffalo and playing his third game since undergoing neck surgery on Nov. 12, scored his first goal since Jan. 28, 2021. With Vegas leading 1-0 in the first period, Eichel drove toward the left side of the net, took a behind-the-goal pass from Chandler Stephenson and then slid a shot past the left pad of James Reimer.

Max Pacioretty had a goal and an assist and Keegan Kolesar and Stephenson also scored goals for the Golden Knights, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Shea Theodore added a pair of assists for Vegas, which also improved to 17-1-3 all-time in regular-season games against the Sharks and has won the last 10 in a row.

Nick Bonino scored a goal and Reimer finished with 31 saves for San Jose, which lost its sixth consecutive game and 10th in its last 12.

Hurricanes 4, Penguins 3

Jesper Fast and Sebastian Aho scored third-period goals as visiting Carolina hung on to top Pittsburgh in a showdown for first place in the Metropolitan Division.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jordan Staal also scored for the Hurricanes, who won their second straight and are 7-2-2 in their past 11. Carolina goaltender Antti Raanta made 31 saves.