Jack Eichel scores in OT, sends Knights to playoffs

DENVER – Jack Eichel scored 1:19 into overtime and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 Saturday night to secure a playoff spot.

Vegas (91 points) took the lead in the Pacific Division ahead of Edmonton with its fifth victory in six games since coach John Tortorella was hired to replace Bruce Cassidy. The Oilers, who lost 1-0 in Los Angeles earlier, have 90 points and Anaheim is third with 89 points.

Knights goaltender Carter Hart, who finished with 30 saves, stopped Devon Toews on a shot, and Eichel collected the rebound. He skated down the left boards and beat Mackenzie Blackwood to earn the victory.

Blackwood finished with 26 saves for Colorado, which lost defenseman Josh Manson to an upper-body injury and coach Jared Bednar early in the third period after being hit by a puck in the head.

Keegan Kolesar was carrying the puck along the boards in the neutral zone when he lifted it over the Avs bench and hit Bednar, who went to his knees holding the side of his head.

He was helped to the locker room by one of the team’s coaches and did not return to the bench. He was taken to hospital after the match for a scan.

Colorado clinched first place overall with a 3-1 victory over Calgary on Thursday, the third time in franchise history it has won the Presidents’ Trophy. The Avs also have a say in who wins the Pacific Division, with a game in Edmonton on Monday night.

Toews gave Colorado a 1-0 lead with a power play goal midway through the first period, and Mark Stone tied it up on the Knights’ second man advantage later in the period.

Pavel Dorofeyev gave Vegas a 2-1 lead 2:09 into the second period, and Nick Blankenburg made it 2-0, his first goal with the Avs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.