LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The Vegas Golden Knights erupted for three second-period goals to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 on Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena. Mark Stone led Vegas with a goal and two assists, while Reilly Smith scored twice. Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl each had two points for the Golden Knights, who improved to 19-23. Columbus built a 2-1 lead after the first period on goals from Kent Johnson and Boone Jenner. The Golden Knights dominated the middle frame, however, with Smith, Eichel and Stone scoring to take a commanding 4-2 lead. Kirill Marchenko brought Columbus within one in the third period before Vegas’ Brett Howden sealed the win with an empty-net goal. The Blue Jackets fell to 18-25. Attendance was 17,614.

LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The Vegas Golden Knights erupted for three second-period goals to erase an early deficit and defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 on Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena. A crowd of 17,614 watched the Golden Knights improve to 19-23, while the Blue Jackets fell to 18-25. Columbus seized control early, striking twice in the opening period. Kent Johnson opened the scoring at 10:41, converting a wrist shot off assists from Sean Monahan and Boone Jenner. Jenner then doubled the lead at 18:24, tipping a Zach Werenski point shot past Vegas goaltender Akira Schmid, with Monahan earning his second helper of the night. Vegas cut into the lead before the first intermission. Just 40 seconds after Jenner’s goal, Reilly Smith answered for the Golden Knights, deflecting a Ben Hutton shot with Mitchell Marner providing the secondary assist. The middle frame belonged entirely to Vegas. Smith netted his second of the game at 10:19, finishing a precise passing sequence from Marner and Mark Stone to tie the score. Jack Eichel then gave the Golden Knights their first lead at 16:07, firing a wrist shot after a setup from Ivan Barbashev and Stone. The Knights capitalized on a power play later in the period to extend their advantage. With Columbus’ Mathieu Olivier serving a hooking minor, Stone wired a shot from the high slot, assisted by Tomas Hertl and Eichel, making it 4-2 at 16:44. Columbus pushed back in the third. Kirill Marchenko brought the Blue Jackets within one at 17:28, scoring on a wrist shot with Ivan Provorov and Adam Fantilli assisting. The Blue Jackets pressed for the equalizer, but Vegas sealed the victory when Brett Howden scored into an empty net with 1:46 remaining, assisted by Keegan Kolesar and Hertl. Vegas’ top line of Stone, Eichel and Hertl was dominant. Stone, named the game’s top star, finished with a goal and two assists, continuing a point streak that has seen him score in four consecutive games. Eichel added a goal and an assist, while Hertl contributed two assists. Smith’s two-goal performance provided crucial secondary scoring. For Columbus, Jenner had a goal and an assist, and Monahan registered two assists. Goaltender Jet Greaves made 38 saves in the loss, while Schmid stopped 32 shots for Vegas. The game featured three minor penalties. Vegas’ Keegan Kolesar was called for high-sticking in the first period, Columbus’ Olivier was penalized for hooking in the second, and the Blue Jackets’ Brendan Gaunce received a delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass in the third. The result marked Vegas’ second victory over Columbus this season, following a 3-2 win in Ohio on Dec. 13. The Golden Knights’ offensive outburst defied the pregame projection from National Statistical, which had forecast a lower-scoring 3-2 Vegas victory and gave the Knights a 61% probability to win. The combined eight goals surpassed the over/under line of 6.5. Vegas looks to build momentum when it hosts the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. Columbus continues a road trip with back-to-back games at Colorado and Utah this weekend.

Preview: Blue Jackets, Golden Knights Meet in Key Western Conference Matchup LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to halt recent slides will meet when the Columbus Blue Jackets visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena. Both clubs enter with nearly identical records and a need for points. The Blue Jackets (18-23-0) have lost two straight, including a 5-4 overtime defeat to Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Golden Knights (17-23-0) are mired in a more pronounced slump, having lost five consecutive games in regulation, with their last win coming on Dec. 23. The matchup is a quick rematch of a Dec. 13 meeting in Columbus, which Vegas won 3-2. Brandon Saad logged a shot and two penalty minutes for the Golden Knights in that victory, while Charlie Coyle scored one of Columbus’s goals. Coyle enters as a player to watch for the Blue Jackets. The center has recorded four points (one goal, three assists) in his last 10 games and is coming off a physical performance Sunday with two hits against Pittsburgh. His line, which has recently included Kirill Marchenko, will be counted on to generate offense. Marchenko had a goal and an assist in the loss to the Penguins. For Vegas, winger Brandon Saad aims to provide a spark. He scored the team’s most recent goal in a 3-2 overtime loss at Chicago on Sunday. However, offensive consistency has been an issue for the Golden Knights during their losing streak, having been outscored 21-9 over the five games. The game pits two of the NHL’s lower-ranked teams against each other in a contest that could impact the early trade deadline landscape. Both clubs have struggled to find traction in their respective conferences. Following this game, Columbus continues a road trip Saturday at Colorado. Vegas remains at home to host St. Louis on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.