NHL roundup: 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.

Bryan Rust had a goal and an assist, Sidney Crosby and Evan Rodrigues also scored, and Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang each had two assists for the Penguins, who lost their second straight. Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry made 26 saves.

Panthers 5, Blackhawks 2

Three different defensemen scored goals for Florida and Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves in a win over host Chicago.