The Golden Knights entered Game 4 two wins away from the Western Conference finals. Vegas took the first lead after Max Pacioretty’s quick wrist shot slipped through Vancouver goalie Jacob Markstrom’s pads. The Canucks tied the game 1-1 with a power play goal midway through the first. Two minutes later, Chandler Stephenson regained the lead for Vegas after a nice give-and-go pass with Shea Theodore. Starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 7 out of 8 Vancouver shots taking a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
Vancouver evened the game early and took the lead later in the second period. It was the Canucks second power play goal that gave them a 3-2 lead. Markstrom held the Golden Knights scoreless on 14 shots in the second period.
The tide turned in the third period as the Golden Knights came out ready to take care of business. Nate Schmidt tied the game 2:52 into the final twenty minutes, and Pacioretty gave Vegas the lead 4-3 with his second goal of the night. William Karlsson joined the party stretching the Golden Knights lead 5-4. Fleury stopped 27 of Vancouver’s 30 shots on net and earned his first win of the series.
With their 5-3 victory, the Golden Knights lead 3-1 in their best-of-seven game series. Vegas will have a chance at clinching the second round matchup with the Canucks on Tuesday night. Game 5 will air on NBC Sports Network scheduled for 645P PT.