Even with two weeks off and plenty of rest, Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy expected fatigue as the game wore on.
It’s more evident during a tight, checking game in the third period when the Knights were trying to hold on to a lead.
But the Knights came out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break the same way they went into it — playing strong defensive hockey when it mattered and holding on for the win.
The Knights won their third straight game in their first action in two weeks, beating the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.
“If you manage the puck and manage your shift length, usually you can get through these types of games and you start getting back to your game,” Cassidy said. “Both teams at times kind of lost that, and it showed that you just couldn’t get it back as quickly as you hoped.”
Left wing Brandon Saad scored the go-ahead goal 18 seconds into the third period in his first home game since signing a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Knights (34-17-6) on Jan. 31. He has two goals in five games with the team.
Left wing Ivan Barbashev scored for the first time since Dec. 14, and goaltender Adin Hill made 33 saves for his second consecutive win.
The NHL returned to action Saturday following its two-week break because of the best-on-best round-robin tournament that took place instead of the league’s all-star break.
“Coming off the break, you want to be sharp and have the right details and get them back quickly,” Saad said. “Overall, I thought we did a pretty good job.”
Scoring was high around the league, with 91 goals scored before the start of the Knights-Canucks nightcap. The Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres scored eight goals each in their games.
Goaltending, however, ruled the day. The Knights had three power plays in the first period — two Vancouver too-many-men penalties and the other a delay of game.
They had no answer for Vancouver goalie Kevin Lankinen.
One day removed from signing a five-year, $22.5 million extension with the Canucks, Lankinen stopped all 13 shots he faced in the first period, including multiple point-blank stops on the penalty kill. He finished with 32 saves.
The Canucks opened the scoring 6:22 in the second period with right wing Jake DeBrusk alone on the weak side after Hill misread the puck from below the goal line.
That was the only mistake Hill made. He stopped the final 26 shots he faced, including all 19 in the third period.
“Kind of a slow buildup,” Hill said. “I thought our guys did a good job, especially after that many days off, to play as detailed as we could.”
Barbashev tied the score 1-1 at 11:02 of the second period with his first goal in 17 games off a rebound from a Kaedan Korczak point shot, and Saad broke the tie on a rebound early in the third.
Center Tomas Hertl scored an empty-netter with 31 seconds remaining.
“We had a few big blocks at the end. A few desperation plays from a lot of guys in our lineup,” Hill said. “That’s what it takes to win in this league.”
Here are three takeaways from the win:
1. Korczak’s turn
The injury to defenseman Shea Theodore, week to week with an upper-body injury suffered during the tournament, has opened the door for the Knights’ reserve blue liners to get playing time.
Korczak was first up, recording an assist in 14:44 in just his second game since Dec. 6.
“The coaches do a great job with us in practice,” Korczak said of staying ready. “I felt good going right into it.”
Korczak, 24, and Ben Hutton, 31, could see time for as long as Theodore is out. Korczak played in Theodore’s spot with Brayden McNabb on the second pairing.
2. Overturned goals
The Knights were the beneficiaries of two goals that didn’t count in the third period.
Canucks center Teddy Blueger was called for goaltender interference at 5:18 when he fell on top of Hill in the crease.
With 4:24 remaining, Hill froze the puck on a Vancouver power play, but the play was whistled dead before the Canucks tried to jam it through Hill’s pad.
3. Injury updates
Theodore is out for the foreseeable future, but Cassidy said centers William Karlsson and Cole Schwindt have begun skating as they continue to rehab from lower-body injuries.
Karlsson has not played since Jan. 20. The Sweden native had to withdraw from the 4 Nations tournament because of the injury.
Schwindt has been out since Jan. 18. The 23-year-old has seven assists in 38 games with the Knights.
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.