Golden Knights vs. Sabres Recap: Hertl Scores Twice in 4-1 Win

The Vegas Golden Knights beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Sunday afternoon. After a scoreless 1st, Mitch Marner scored an unassisted shorthanded goal at 12:17 of the 2nd, and Jack Eichel made it 2-0 at 13:43. Beck Malenstyn cut it to 2-1 at 4:26 of the 3rd, but Tomas Hertl answered 77 seconds later and scored again at 10:00. Adin Hill made 28 saves on 29 shots. Neither team scored on the power play. Four DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

Golden Knights +1.5 puck line (-245 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Over the last 15, the Golden Knights scored 3.3 a game and allowed 2.8, while the Sabres scored and allowed 3.1. We projected a near coin flip, 0.1 for Vegas, and Buffalo was on a back-to-back. - What happened: Vegas won by 3, so the +1.5 cleared by 4.5. - Worth watching: When our projection is close to even, getting 1.5 goals is the cushion. That logic still holds at this price.

Jack Quinn 2+ shots on goal (-285 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Quinn had 2+ shots in 9 of his last 10 and 13 of 16 games this season. - What happened: He landed exactly 2 shots on goal in 16:43, with 3:29 on the power play. - Worth watching: It cleared by the minimum, and the price was steep. His hit rate is good, but shop for a better number.

Mitch Marner 1+ points (-200 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Marner had a point in 9 of his last 10 and 13 of 16 this season, with an assist in 9 of 10. - What happened: He scored the shorthanded goal at 12:17 of the 2nd to cash it, then set up Hertl's goal at 5:43 of the 3rd. He finished with 2 points and 3 shots in 18:35. - Worth watching: He produced shorthanded and at even strength here, which gives him more than one way to get on the sheet.

ALT: Tomas Hertl 2+ shots on goal (-170 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Hertl cleared 2+ shots in 8 of his last 10 and 15 of his last 20. The best price of -170 implied 63%, against about 74% from recent games. - What happened: He put 4 shots on goal in 14:18 and scored twice in the 3rd, at 5:43 and 10:00. - Worth watching: He got there in just over 14 minutes. The gap between the price and his recent rate is the reason to keep checking this line.

How the game played out

The 2nd period swung it. Marner's shorthanded goal broke a scoreless game, and Eichel scored 86 seconds later. Buffalo outshot Vegas 29-26, but the Golden Knights blocked 23 shots and Hill handled the rest. Colten Ellis made 22 saves on 26 shots for Buffalo.

Trends to watch

• Vegas blocked 23 shots, more than double Buffalo's 10.
• Both power plays went without a goal on 3 chances each, so this one was won at even strength and shorthanded.
• Hertl and Marner combined on the goal that restored the two-goal lead in the 3rd.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. Find more on the NHL hub, see every NHL recap, or read up on implied probability.