Pacioretty scores twice, Golden Knights take down Avalanche
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LAS VEGAS – If there’s been one knock on the Vegas Golden Knights this season, it’s been they’ve only dominated the lower half of the West Division.
They knocked that notion and their top contender back to Denver in convincing fashion Wednesday night.
Max Pacioretty scored twice to lead the Golden Knights to a 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche in a matchup of the division’s top teams.
Vegas, which has won a franchise-best 10 in a row, now leads Colorado by six points, with the Avalanche having a game in hand. The Golden Knights have outscored teams 45-17 during their win streak.
“Huge result for the standings,” said Peter DeBoer, who registered his 50th win as coach of the Golden Knights. “Gives us a real chance. We’ve still got a lot of business to take care of over the next two weeks. It sets us up where our destiny is in our own hands.”
It marked the 18th time Vegas has scored at least five goals – tops in the NHL.
Vegas, Colorado, and Minnesota, which is one point back of the Avalanche, have all clinched postseason berths. The Golden Knights are 6-6-1 against the Avalanche and Minnesota, while they’re a dominant 29-5-1 against the rest of the division.
The Golden Knights have two more games at Minnesota, where they’ve won just one time since entering the league in 2017. They play Colorado once more in Las Vegas, on May 10.
GOLDEN NUGGETS Fleury is now one victory away from tying Roberto Luongo for third-most career wins at 489.
UP NEXT Avalanche: Host San Jose in a back-to-back Friday and Saturday.
Golden Knights: Open a four-game road trip in Arizona on Friday.