Golden Knights Rout Penguins 6-2 in Vegas Rematch

Pittsburgh's playoff hopes take a hit as they struggle against the high-powered Golden Knights

Mar. 13, 2026 at 4:48am

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The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2 in a rematch of their earlier matchup this month. The Penguins fell behind early and were unable to mount a comeback despite a strong effort, as the Golden Knights' top players like Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, and Pavel Dorofeyev led the way offensively. The loss drops the Penguins to 2-6-0 all-time in Las Vegas and deals a blow to their playoff aspirations in the tight Eastern Conference race.

Why it matters

The Penguins are fighting to maintain their position in the playoff race, and this loss to a fellow contender in the Golden Knights is a setback. Pittsburgh is missing key players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and the team's defensive struggles without Sam Girard have been evident. This game highlights the Penguins' need to find solutions on the back end and get secondary scoring to support their top players.

The details

The Golden Knights jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first two periods, with goals from Colton Sissons and Dorofeyev. The Penguins were able to cut the deficit to 2-1 and 3-2, but Vegas pulled away in the third period with goals from Dorofeyev, Jack Eichel, and an empty-netter. Penguins defenseman Ilya Solovyov struggled, making key mistakes that led to two Golden Knights goals.

  • The Golden Knights scored the opening goal early in the first period.
  • The Penguins killed off two Vegas power plays in the first period.
  • The Golden Knights extended their lead to 2-0 in the second period.
  • The Penguins scored twice in the second period to make it a 3-2 game.
  • The Golden Knights pulled away with three third-period goals to seal the 6-2 victory.

The players

Mark Stone

The Vegas Golden Knights captain returned to the lineup after missing time due to injury.

Mitch Marner

The Golden Knights forward had a strong game, recording a goal and an assist.

Pavel Dorofeyev

The Golden Knights' leading scorer on the season, Dorofeyev netted two goals in the victory.

Ilya Solovyov

The Penguins defenseman struggled, making mistakes that led to two Golden Knights goals.

Jack Eichel

The Golden Knights star forward added a goal in the third period to extend the lead.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to tighten up our defensive play, especially with some key guys out of the lineup. This was a tough loss, but we'll regroup and be ready for our next game.”

— Mike Sullivan, Penguins Head Coach

“Our top players stepped up tonight and we were able to take advantage of some of their defensive lapses. It was a big win against a tough opponent.”

— Bruce Cassidy, Golden Knights Head Coach

What’s next

The Penguins will look to bounce back on Saturday when they travel to face the Utah Grizzlies, while the Golden Knights will try to build on this victory as they continue their playoff push.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the Penguins' need to shore up their defensive play and find secondary scoring to support their top players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The Golden Knights, meanwhile, showed their offensive firepower and ability to capitalize on their opponent's mistakes, cementing their status as a top contender in the Western Conference.