Jack Eichel, 'trying to get a little more aggressive,' scores his first goal with Vegas Golden Knights

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Three games into his Vegas Golden Knights career, Jack Eichel on Sunday began to show glimpses of the many reasons the Stanley Cup-hopeful team acquired him.

Eichel, held out of the goal column in two losses for Vegas to open his season last week, scored his first goal as a Golden Knight and added an assist as Vegas defeated the San Jose Sharks, 4-1. It was the Golden Knights' 10th straight win over San Jose and snapped an uncharacteristic three-game losing streak.

Eichel, delayed from making his Vegas debut as he recovered from artificial disk replacement surgery on his neck in November following his trade from the Buffalo Sabres, finished off a nifty give-and-go with Chandler Stephenson to give Vegas a 2-0 lead in the first period. It was his first goal since Jan. 28, 2021, with Buffalo. The goal came during four-on-four play, with players from both sides in the penalty box.

«There was a little bit of relief,» Eichel said on the game broadcast. «You get the first one out of the way, and just keep playing hockey.»

Vegas acquired Eichel in a deal with the Sabres on Nov. 4 and he underwent the surgery the following week. He began practicing with the Golden Knights last month and made his debut last Wednesday as a top-line center.

«It's a little bit of pressure off of him now. But I liked his game tonight,» Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said. «I think that with every game, he's taken another step, and tonight, he was that much better.»

Beyond the statistics, Eichel simply looked more at ease against the Sharks; his skating strides were long and he was active in the corners on puck battles. In the third period, he attempted a wraparound, spinorama shot on San Jose goalie James Reimer that was deflected away.