Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) skates away from Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz in the first period during an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 | 3:38 p.m.
It was starting to look like no one would score. But it’s hard to end a game without someone getting on the scoreboard.
William Karlsson did just that on Sunday, with 42.7 seconds remaining in regulation to boost the Golden Knights to a 1-0 victory over the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
The Golden Knights finished a stretch of four games in a row against Arizona — the first time in NHL regular season history two teams had four consecutive games — with three wins and six of a possible eight points. Vegas is 5-1 on the season.
It was already the second time this year Karlsson had a late tally, tying the game with 1:18 remaining in the second game of the year against the Ducks. Vegas won that one in overtime.
It’s not there was a ton of scoring, there also weren’t a ton a chances either way. That’s good for the Vegas defense a game after giving up five goals, and held the Coyotes to a season-low 16 shots on goal, tied for the second-fewest in a game in team history. Vegas also kept Arizona to four shots on goal in the second period, the fewest in any period this season.
The Golden Knights spent most of the game with the puck on their stick but could not turn it into a goal until Karlsson’s winner. The Golden knights outshot the Coyotes 27-16 for the game.
