Pacioretty scores 2, Golden Knights beat Coyotes 7-1

Max Pacioretty scored twice and Chandler Stephenson had a short-handed goal in a four-goal second period, and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Arizona Coyotes 7-1 on Friday night.

Jonathan Marchessault, Michael Amadio, Evgenii Dadonov and Nicholas Roy also scored and Laurent Brossoit had 28 saves for Vegas, which snapped a two-game skid. The Golden Knights have won 15 of the 21 meetings with the Coyotes since joining the league in 2017.

Travis Boyd scored for Arizona and Karel Vejmelka had 25 saves.

Vegas Golden Knights center Michael Amadio (22) celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRoss D. Franklin)

The Golden Knights scored four goals in just under eight minutes of the second period to break the game open.

Stephenson’s goal on a 2-on-1 break gave the Golden Knights a 3-1 lead at 7:17 of the second period and Pacioretty scored his second on a breakaway 55 seconds later — 8 seconds after coming out of the penalty box following a roughing minor.

Amadio made it 5-1 with 7:13 remaining in the period, and Dadonov pushed Vegas' lead to five with 4:52 left.

Vegas Golden Knights left wing Max Pacioretty, left, celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes with center Chandler Stephenson (20), right wing Mark Stone, second from right, and defenseman Shea Theodore, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRoss D. Franklin)

Five of the Golden Knights’ goals came on odd-man rushes, including Pacioretty’s breakaway.

Pacioretty has three goals and three assists in four games since returning after missing 17 games with a broken foot in the second game of the season.

Marchessault scored his 10th goal at 6:58 of the first period, skating in alone after a pass from Roy on a 2-1 break out of the Coyotes’ defensive zone.

Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson (20) scores a goal against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) as Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith (19) and Coyotes defenseman Kyle Capobianco (75) watch during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRoss D. Franklin)

Travis Boyd tied it less than a minute later before Pacioretty’s power play goal gave the Knights a 2-1 lead at with 6:07 left in the opening period.

ICE CHIPS

Boyd had his 50th career point on his first-period goal. ... Clayton Keller, who assisted on Boyd’s goal, has 10 points in his last eight games. ... Vegas won six of eight in the season series a year ago, both Coyotes wins coming in Arizona. ... The Coyotes recalled Hudson Fasching from AHL Tucson on Friday. ... The Golden Knights are 68-29-4 since Pete DeBoer took over as coach on Jan.15, 2020. ... Brossoit lost the blade on right skate four minutes into the third period while stretching to make a save, and play was stopped while his skate was refitted with a new one. ... Linesman Jonny Murray left the game with a lower body injury midway through the third period and did not return.

Vegas Golden Knights left wing Max Pacioretty (67) scores a goal against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRoss D. Franklin)

UP NEXT

Golden Knights: Host Calgary on Sunday.

Coyotes: At Dallas on Monday.

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Arizona Coyotes left wing Loui Eriksson (21) keeps the puck away from Vegas Golden Knights left wing Max Pacioretty (67) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRoss D. Franklin)

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Laurent Brossoit (39) makes a save on a shot by Arizona Coyotes left wing Loui Eriksson (21) as Golden Knights center Mattias Janmark (26) and defenseman Shea Theodore (27) watch during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRoss D. Franklin)

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) wins a faceoff against Arizona Coyotes center Barrett Hayton during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRoss D. Franklin)

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) makes a save on Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson (20) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRoss D. Franklin)

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Laurent Brossoit (39) makes a save on a shot as Arizona Coyotes center Liam O'Brien (38) is unable to get a stick on the puck and Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague (14) watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. The Golden Knights won 7-1. (AP PhotoRoss D. Franklin)