Golden Knights notebook: Eichel makes statement with goal in Game 2

DENVER — There was going to come a time at some point this series that Jack Eichel needed to make a statement.

It had to come offensively, and it had to come in the form of a goal.

Eichel picked the right time with his first goal in 11 games on Friday that tied Game 2 against the Colorado Avalanche midway through the third period.

It was the moment the Vegas Golden Knights needed in their 3-1 win at Ball Arena to carry a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Final back to Las Vegas with Game 3 at T-Mobile Arena at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

“It’s one of those things where you’re just trying to make plays when you have the opportunity, and it was good to see a few go in,” Eichel said. “Just trying to do the little things right and those things come.”

The burden of being an elite 200-foot player weighs heavy — trying to produce offensively while taking care of business in your own zone.

Eichel has always labeled himself a playmaker more than a scorer. There are times he should lean into his shot more. He tries for the dangerous play, and sometimes that’s fine.

But this is the time of year — and Friday was one of those games — where the star players need to take over, especially in the Knights’ case without captain Mark Stone (lower body) in the lineup.

There was only one choice Eichel could make as he methodically carried the puck down the right side. He picked the right one.

“Phenomenal,” defenseman Noah Hanifin said of Eichel’s goal. “He’s such a good 200-foot player, but man, some of the offensive things he can do with the puck, how smart he is, how patient he is, and he steps up at big moments. And that’s what you need out of your best players.”

It’s the biggest goal of Eichel’s career to this point. He didn’t score from the conference final on during the Knights’ championship run in 2023 despite leading them in scoring that year.

Best in the game

It was Eichel’s first goal since Game 3 of the first round against Utah. While there may have been some trepidation on the offensive side, there wasn’t defensively.

Eichel has become a two-way force since joining the Knights in 2021. He’s earned Selke Trophy votes as the best defensive forward in the league. He’s drawn the top assignment dating back to outdueling Connor McDavid in the 2023 playoffs.

“I think he’s the best 200-foot player in the game,” coach John Tortorella said. “There’s some good ones, but he’s right there.”

His line with Pavel Dorofeyev and Ivan Barbashev have handled the matchup against Nathan MacKinnon’s line as well as you could ask for. MacKinnon’s line has yet to score a 5-on-5 goal this series.

Much of that has been due to Eichel.

“That’s a very nice compliment,” Eichel said of his coach. “For me, personally, I’m ust trying to be a complete player and help out our D when we don’t have the puck. Do the little things right, compete, and when you have the opportunity to make plays, do that.”

Dude, where’s Makar?

Could Cale Makar make a difference? Absolutely. The Avalanche would love nothing more than to have their star defenseman in the lineup.

But saying one player, no matter how great of a defenseman he is, can swing the tide in a series would be a disservice to what the Knights have done through two games.

They’ve taken away the middle of the ice — with the exception of Ross Colton’s first-period goal Friday — and pushed Colorado to the outside.

Any dangerous chances the Avalanche have had, Carter Hart has come through with timely saves. He’s held Colorado to three goals in two games.

“Everyone’s around the room, and it’s a collective collaboration between everyone who’s playing and not playing,” Colorado center Parker Kelly said. “They’re seeing things from up top, trying to give us advice. We’re listening to what (Makar’s) seeing, and whether he’s in the lineup or not, he’s always a presence in the room.”

The Knights still don’t have Stone. There may not be a need to rush him back from that lower-body injury if the Knights continue this momentum.

Makar would help the Avalanche with their transition game, just by having another dynamic playmaker.

Former Knights center Nic Roy said his team can be better in the neutral zone and taking away their time and space. Colorado has been opportunistic, Roy said, but there hasn’t been enough traffic in front of the net.

Obviously (we) weren’t expecting being down 2-0,” Roy said, “but I mean, we’ve just got to put on our work boots and be ready for the next game. Play one game at a time.”

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