Ottawa Senators Fall 4-1 to Vegas Golden Knights as Road Trip Opens With a Loss

LAS VEGAS — The Ottawa Senators fell 4-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday night, losing the opener of a five-game road trip. Vegas scored three third-period goals to snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 9-4-1.

Three third-period goals decide it

Vegas led only 1-0 after two periods, on a power-play goal by Braeden Bowman late in the second. Ottawa's Shane Pinto tied the game early in the third, but Golden Knights rookie Raphael Lavoie broke the tie at 8:01 of the third, finishing the rebound of Ville Heinola's shot on a 3-on-2 rush for his first NHL goal. William Karlsson and Jack Eichel then added empty-net goals to seal the 4-1 final. Vegas goaltender Adin Hill made 25 saves.

An unlikely hero in Lavoie

Lavoie was not expected to play at all: Vegas goaltender Carter Hart sustained an undisclosed injury at the morning skate, prompting the club to recall goaltender Cameron Whitehead from Henderson of the American Hockey League, and Lavoie was told just before leaving the rink that he was in the lineup. It was his 27th NHL game. Afterward he said he had not been thinking about playing that night: sometimes you just go out and play. Golden Knights coach Ryan Craig praised him for taking advantage of the opportunity.

What comes next for Ottawa

The loss opens a five-game road trip for the Senators, who generated several high-danger chances but could not convert them the way Vegas did. Ottawa will look to bounce back as the trip continues.