Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) watches the puck after stopping Vegas Golden Knights' Pavel Dorofeyev (16) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

By The Canadian Press

Cole Smith scores winner, Vegas Golden Knights edge struggling Vancouver Canucks 2-1

Apr 7, 2026 | 10:44 PM

VANCOUVER — Cole Smith scored the game-winner midway through the third period and the Vegas Golden Knights held on to beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on Tuesday.

Max Sasson opened the scoring for the Canucks (22-47-8) with a wrist shot over the glove of Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart at the 12:50 mark of the second period. It was his 13th goal of the season.

Brayden McNabb replied for Vegas (36-26-16) less than three minutes later, sending a shot through traffic to knot the score at 1-1. Smith scored the go-ahead goal 12:13 into the final frame.

Vancouver had a prime chance to force extra time when Vegas defenceman Rasmus Andersson was called for interference with less than two minutes left on the game clock.

The Canucks pulled netminder Nikita Tolopilo in favour of an extra attacker, but couldn’t bury the equalizer.

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Hart stopped nine of the 10 shots he faced in the Golden Knights’ net while Tolopilo made 26 saves for the Canucks.

The result stretched Vegas’ win streak to four straight games under new head coach John Tortorella, who took over behind the bench March 31.

TAKEAWAYS

Canucks: Struggled offensively all game and were outshot 28-10. Vancouver didn’t register a shot until defenceman Victor Mancini fired a puck into Hart with just over five minutes remaining in the first period.

Golden Knights: Swept the three-game season series between the two sides after winning 5-2 on Feb. 4 and 4-2 on March 30 in Vegas … Brandon Saad slotted back into the lineup after missing 13 straight games as a healthy scratch.

KEY MOMENT

Smith won a battle along the boards at Vancouver’s blue line and dished the puck off to Nic Dowd. The veteran forward sliced a pass back to Smith, who launched a shot from the top of the faceoff circle, sending it in past Tolopilo to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead 12:13 into the third.

KEY STAT

The Golden Knights have points in seven of their last eight games (5-1-2).

UP NEXT

Canucks: Visit the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.

Golden Knights: Visit the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2026.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Cole Smith scores winner, Vegas Golden Knights edge struggling Vancouver Canucks 2-1

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