Match date: 4 November 2026.
Final score: Penguins 2, Golden Knights 3.
The Penguins led in the third period, but T. Hertl's second goal of the night at 19:25 gave the Golden Knights a 3-2 victory in Pittsburgh on 4 November. It was a sharp late reversal in a game that had been level entering the final 11 minutes.
Game Story
T. Hertl put the Golden Knights ahead at 16:36 of the first period, converting with M. Marner and J. Eichel credited with the assists. That was the only goal of an opening 40 minutes in which neither side could extend its advantage.
The Penguins changed the shape of the contest quickly after the second intermission. T. Novak tied it 1:09 into the third, assisted by K. Korczak and S. Stastney, before R. Rakell moved the home side in front at 9:58. T. Novak and K. Korczak supplied the assists, completing a two-goal swing for Pittsburgh.
Vegas responded promptly. T. Connelly made it 2-2 at 11:19 from J. Lauzon's assist, removing the Penguins' lead only 1:21 after it had been established. The match then moved towards a tight finish, with the Golden Knights taking penalties at 15:57 and 16:35 before Pittsburgh were penalised at 18:43.
Hertl settled it with 35 seconds left in regulation. M. Stone and J. Eichel assisted on the late winner, giving Vegas a road result after Pittsburgh had briefly taken control of the third period.
Turning Point
The decisive sequence came in the final 95 seconds. Pittsburgh took a penalty at 18:43 with the score tied, then Hertl struck at 19:25 to turn a 2-2 game into a Golden Knights lead that stood through the final whistle.
Standout Performers
Hertl delivered the defining performance with both Golden Knights goals, including the winner. Eichel assisted on each of Hertl's finishes for a two-point night, while A. Hill made 23 saves on 25 shots. For Pittsburgh, Novak scored once and assisted on Rakell's goal, and Korczak recorded two assists, one on each home goal.
Tactical Observations
The scoring chronology made this a contest of responses rather than sustained separation. Vegas carried a 1-0 lead through the second interval, Pittsburgh then produced two third-period goals to move ahead, and the Golden Knights answered twice in the final 8:41. The late penalty against the Penguins gave Vegas the game state it needed to attack a tied finish. Hill's 23 saves also mattered in a one-goal match, while A. Silovs stopped 20 of 23 for Pittsburgh.
Coach Mark Comment
The difficult part for Pittsburgh is the timing rather than the size of the mistake. They had recovered from 1-0 down, built a 2-1 lead, then watched it disappear within 81 seconds before the late penalty put the finish in Vegas's hands. Those final minutes are uncomfortable for any bench because there is no room left to settle the game back down. Hertl's goal with 35 seconds remaining made every earlier good shift feel a long way away.
What It Means
Vegas left with a regulation win despite surrendering the lead in the third, while Hertl's two goals supplied the difference in a one-goal result. Pittsburgh gained a two-point contribution from Novak but could not protect its brief advantage.
What Comes Next
For Pittsburgh, the immediate question is how to turn a productive third-period comeback into a finish that withstands the final minutes. Vegas can take confidence from the way it answered after falling behind.