Recap: The Golden Knights were looking to snap their winless streak with a victory in Dallas. Vegas struck first off a rare coast-to-coast rush from Brayden McNabb. It was McNabb’s 4th goal of the season. Later the Stars evened the score on the power play goal and took the lead with 5-on-5 goal.
Ivan Barbashev scored the only goal of the middle frame to tie the game at two goals apiece.
With minutes winding down, Reilly Smith scored the game-winning goal for Vegas.
The Golden Knights record improves to 32-25-14 defeating the Stars 3-2 in Dallas. Next, Vegas will travel to Winnipeg for a matchup with the Jets on tomorrow evening. Puck drop in Winnipeg is scheduled for 5 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: The Golden Knights got on the board first, which has been an issue recently, but didn’t convert it like they would have liked, falling behind before the end of the 1st. A special teams war broke out in the middle period and VGK came out on the right side of it thanks to a nifty goal by the second unit. In the end, it was Reilly Smith, who had been healthy scratched five straight games coming through in a big way. Great moment for the team, even better moment for the original Golden Knight. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center.
- SinBin Podcast (that actually should happen this time)
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Brayden McNabb
** Adin Hill
* Reilly Smith
VGK scored 3 goals tonight.
The last 7 times they’ve scored 3 goals, they have won the game. They have scored 2 or fewer in each of their last 9 losses.#StopBlamingTheGoalies
— SinBin.vegas 🇺🇸🥇 (@SinBinVegas) March 23, 2026
Reilly Smith cleans up the garbage on the backdoor!
After weeks of healthy scratch he comes into the lineup and makes an instant impact.
3-2 VGK
— SinBin.vegas 🇺🇸🥇 (@SinBinVegas) March 23, 2026
The last 6 VGK/DAL games have been decided by 1 goal, including the Game 7 decider in 2024.
— SinBin.vegas 🇺🇸🥇 (@SinBinVegas) March 23, 2026
2nd power play unit comes on and runs the exact play the top unit has used all year. Sissons to Howden to Barbashev and he roofs it.
2-2
— SinBin.vegas 🇺🇸🥇 (@SinBinVegas) March 23, 2026
Emmanuel
Shot suppresion on fleek….
…..thats why I still have hope they can do damage IF they make the playoffs.
Jose
Still lingering issues like Eichel and Stone struggling, but great win anyways.
Something to build on.
vgk21
desperation + perspiration = Celebration
the Misfits to the rescue…Smith and McNabb
scratch Smitty and he bleeds misfit magic
now if the 4 big scorers, E, St, H, Dor can get it going again
TS
Yessssssss!! A bit of VGK Magic to right the ship, and give us some hope!
Larry
VGK21 I liked your equation, very creative, it took me back to a form of math had late in high school or early in college called logics.
hdbiker7851
A great win – needed badly – Smitty does his thing. Wonders never cease – Andersson has a few chances – on to Winnipeg for a win Tuesday evening not tomorrow as Jason implied.
Pistol Pete
Not at all surprised by that outcome not in the least tiny little bit.
Watched most of the Texas/HSK game last night. Connelly looked every bit like the top ten pick many think he would have been minus the personal issue. The guy can really move and can really move the puck. Got an assist and has another tonight in the Texas rematch. Over a point a game this season. He’s destined for the VGK roster, Lindbom pitching a SO through two periods.
Pistol Pete
Connelly gets two assists tonight in the Texas rematch 11G/26A (37 pts in 25 games).
Lindbom allows two in the third missing his SO (2.31/.922)
Is Viliam Kmec our #1 D prospect? Two assists tonight 2G/10A (+11) in 55 games this season. Another Korzcak in the making?
Sabres tried hard to win one for us coming back from 4-2 against the Ducks to go up 5-4 but alas the Ducks tie it with under two minutes remaining and win in OT.
Pistol Pete
Lindbom updated to 2.29/.922 after that 2 GA win against the Stars.
Pistol Pete
Typos: Connelly 37 pts/35 games (not 25 games).
Pistol Pete
And career he’s now exactly point a game (12G/29A in 41 games). Not too shabby. Playmaking winger left shot who can score some. Excellent pace makes things happen with the puck.
knights fan in minny
Wow something new for the boys A win in the Pacific Pillow Fight Division Just give the Puck To Bobby Orr Mcnabb What a sweet coast to coast goal should be on Sports Center tonight
Emmanuel
McDavid is spot on about the Pac
JB
And then ….. we play a game like that against a very good team. Gives ya hope. Real hope or false?
TS
THAT was a complete game– all 60 minutes of it! So many good things about this game, the team effort, .and vs a really good Star team, not a Pacific Patsie!
A HUGE rrlief for them, AND us fans…….I’m.pretty sure my neighbors heard my celebration when we won!
NAM
This ain’t Smith’s first rodeo at game winning goals. I never mind seeing a player be a healthy scratch (this includes top players) as a refocus tool or even as a little break, but sitting Smith when the rest of the team has played like dick didn’t make sense to me. Good for Smith and good win for this group.
DeezNutz
I’m not falling for this. They looked better but they need a 10 game stretch playing like this for me to buy what they are selling. They’ll go back to playing worse than minnie’s squirt team
Emmanuel
Stars F’s had a bad night & the two goals are from secondary scorers, still 2 pts in the Pac is a big deal, pulling away from the Kings/Krak & Sharks. Top 3 is (almost) a lock.
knights fan in minny
What did you ever play little nutz You probably sat in the stands like a little wet dream
Pistol Pete
Marner was back at C. A critical game winning primary assist.
Barbashev-Eichel-Stone
R.Smith-Marner-Dorofeyev
Howden-Hertl-Kolesar
C.Smith-Dowd-Sissons
McNabb-Theodore
Hanifin-Korczak
Lauzon-Andersson
Hill
Have to wonder if Connelly is ready for his call up?
Connelly-Hertl-Kolesar
Howden-Dowd-Sissons
Emmanuel
I liked that every D pairing had one of the big 3 & the lines were more balanced scoring wise.
What position do you think Connelly would play in the playoffs? LW? Or is that a ‘ lets put him w/Eichel thing?
Pistol Pete
Connelly is a left wing.
Emmanuel
LW is VGKs weakness so thats great!
It would also keep Doro @ RW.
No defensive issues? Can he handle a top 6 RW?
Richie-Rich
Game 71 Analysis VGK 3, DAL 2
We witnessed the rare complete game tonight. The hope is that this game will become muscle memory, instinctive, and repeatable. More importantly this was a victory against a top level true Cup Contender.
Nothing negative to say about this one. File this one to memory and repeat often.
leonard wise
Shot suppression was the key still will never feel confident with Hill still under .900 save percentage this game. Hope Hart can play some and send Bowman down and bring up Connelly up. Going to need more scoring. What do you have to lose. Taking Reilly out was a coaching he is one of the few that scores. Jack Eichel performance since the Olympics is not acceptable 0 goals.
leonard wise
Yes I know typos I meant taking Reilly was a poor coaching decision. Bring Connelly up and send Bowman down. I agree with Pete on this one.
Pistol Pete
I would not count on Bowman being scratched on a continual basis. At just under half a point a game he’s been solid for a rookie. Somewhat doubt Connelly will be called up. He’s probably not yet NHL-strong on the puck but that is my fan guess who knows how the staff actually evaluates the situation. I was thinking Connelly-Hertl-Bowman and Howden-Dowd-Kolesar. That would entail scratching C. Smith and Sissons along with Saad. Somewhat doubt they have the cap space without waiving someone.
I always enjoy trying the second guess the lineup. No harm in it as I see it even if I can be wrong.
Pistol Pete
Sort of have the feeling Marner is at center to stay. Makes sense depth wise to try and build a third line around Hertl if we can just get Tomas scoring 5 on 5 with the right wingers. Howden and Bowman might work.
Btw Uchacz and Lavoie are both scoring in Henderson. Uchacz I think has real fourth line C potential. Lavoie just can never seem to score in the NHL but maybe just maybe that changes. Holtz as expected is a point a game since returning to the AHL. What an enigma. Was working his ass off on the VGK roster. Playing really hard. Maybe he’ll finally take that step.
FG
VGK rankings so far this season
xGF 11 but GF 17
xGA 2 but GA 22
PP 4
PK 5
Goaltending 31
Make your own conclusions
Duckboy
Conclusions
1 we don’t have finishers.
2 Letting marchessault go was stupidest thing ever.
3 why did we trade for 4th liners
4 Trading for Anderson literally didn’t address
A need and we got ripped off
5 cap crunch next year will fuck us
6 hill extension was criminal
Fire mccriminal
Emmanuel
I question the xGA,
sure they suppress shots but they are usually high quality IMHO.
Also it would require ALL the G to be bad, thats suspect.
knights fan in minny
marchy Should have buried his ego He had chemistry here It was all about the money for him He is now a shell of himself in Nashville
Larry
I agree Minny…. At the time leading up to free agency I had presented the perfect contract for both sides …. $6 million per year for 3 years…. A win win for both sides….instead he got his money and years elsewhere but turned out to be a lose lose for both sides professionally.
Ken Boehlke
VGK are
23-0-4 when scoring 4 or more
8-6-4 when scoring exactly 3
1-20-6 when scoring 2 or fewer
Make your own conclusions.
(You can do this with any area of VGK aside from special teams. It’s clearly not just the goaltending)
Pistol Pete
With his mobility and all around skill Marner belongs in the center of the ice as well evidenced by his control of the puck in setting up the events that led to Smith’s game winner. He wanted to be a center in Toronto it just did not work out that way. Pav belongs on his right wing though it’s unknown how that will go in the playoffs. What will it take to give Connelly a look if that I what they decide to do? Waive Saad? R. Smith if he can perform on the Marner line or possibly Hertl’s will be worth extending I would say. All depends on how the rest of the season goes including the playoffs.
We really need Hill to be closer to the goalie he was in winning the Cup if we are to stand a chance of doing well in the postseason. Maybe Hart can come back and supplant Schmid as the backup. Carl Lindbom is looking like a damn good AHL goalie but with Hart in the picture it’s hard to see him up on the roster for the next couple years unless Hill is utterly horrible, they decide to do something about it and Hart turns out to be a flop. Sure is good to have Lindbom in the system. He looks to be an NHL starter.
Larry
As KEN posted the other day in response to my inquiry, waiving Saad or anyone else would do no good for salary cap purposes, the only option would be to send Bowman to the minors in order to promote anyone.
I have always hoped for a Lavoie chance as he has been on fire all season while healthy for HSK, however in the 1 game he played for VGK this year he was horrifically abysmal turning the puck over twice in the defensive zone that led to Grade A chances.