Marner has hat trick, 5 points in Golden Knights win against Flames

LAS VEGAS -- Mitch Marner scored a hat trick and added two assists to help the Vegas Golden Knights to a 6-3 victory against the Calgary Flames at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday.

It was Marner's first hat trick with Vegas and his fourth in the NHL.

“Mitch is a great hockey player. It’s been fun for me, the two games that I’ve been up close and personal with them," Golden Knights coach John Tortorella said. "As his coach, I’ve watched him for so many years. He’s a complete player. Very important guy, one of the top players in the League. He does a lot of things for us.”

Ivan Barbashev had a goal and two assists, and Shea Theodore had two assists for the Golden Knights (34-26-16), who have won two straight under Tortorella. Carter Hart made 19 saves in his return after missing 33 games because of a lower-body injury.

Vegas is three points behind the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks for first place in the Pacific Division, and five points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.

“We just stuck with our game plan of trying to play quick, play up the ice, play in their face,” Marner said. “I thought we did a better job throughout the game of covering for one another when we were doing that. Obviously, some great plays from some guys to find me, and just kind of make plays.”

Blake Coleman scored twice, and Morgan Frost also had a goal for the Flames (31-36-8), who were coming off a 9-2 loss at the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. Dustin Wolf made 28 saves.

“We took too many penalties. Can’t give (those to) a team with a power play like that,” said Calgary defenseman Zach Whitecloud, who was playing his first game against Vegas since being traded in the deal for Rasmus Andersson on Jan. 18. “It’s tough to claw your way out of that. It loses momentum and creates momentum for them, whether they create chances or vice versa.”

Frost gave the Flames a 1-0 lead at 7:41 of the first period. He intercepted a pass by Kaedan Korczak in the neutral zone, skated in on a 2-on-1, and stopped in the left circle after getting the defenseman to commit to the pass before scoring short side past Hart's glove.

Marner tied the game 1-1 at 1:47 of the second period, redirecting Theodore’s shot from the top of the right circle.

Coleman put the Flames back ahead 2-1 at 4:38. He took a pass from Mikael Backlund on a 2-on-1 rush, moved the puck to his forehand, and beat Hart blocker side from the right circle.

Marner tied the game 2-2 at 6:42 with a one-timer from the low slot.

Coleman again gave Calgary a 3-2 lead at 8:11. He skated in on another 2-on-1 rush, but this time he elected to keep the puck himself and scored glove side off the post from the left circle.

“It’s always good to score and help your team get on the board,” Coleman said. “I’d like to have one of the goals they scored on us back. Ultimately, it’s about how you play on both sides. Disappointed with giving up one, but nice to contribute. Just a tough loss, but we’ll bounce back.”

Pavel Dorofeyev tied it 3-3 at 16:21, one-timing a pass from Marner short side from the right circle for a power-play goal.

Brett Howden put Vegas up 4-3 at 12:20 of the third period, scoring blocker side from the slot on a rush.

“I liked our pace. We were playing fast all night, and that’s something we’ve been talking a lot about, playing with some more pace,” Howden said. “We did a good job of that tonight.”

Barbashev pushed it to 5-3 at 14:59. Wolf misplayed the puck behind the net, and Marner got to it in the trapezoid and threw a shot on goal. Wolf had scrambled back and made the save with his left pad, but the rebound kicked out to Barbashev, who buried it five-hole.

Marner completed the hat trick with a wraparound at 18:31 for the 6-3 final.

“We were tied at three with ten minutes left and we gave up an odd-man rush and they were able to capitalize,” Calgary coach Ryan Huska said. “There was a bad break on their fifth goal that kind of rolled off (Wolf's) stick.”

There was a 26-minute delay before the start of the third period due to an ice maintenance issue.

“It was tough, to be honest,” Marner said. “We didn’t know what was going on, we just kind of heard what was going on. Then we kind of got out there and it still seemed like it’s not really fixed, so you’re just trying to get your bearings under you, trying to get going.”

NOTES: Mark Stone had the primary assist on Marner's third goal. It was his 700th NHL point. ... Dorofeyev has 35 goals this season, tying his NHL career high he set last season.