Schenn scores game-winning goal as Blues beat Golden Knights 4-3

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Brayden Schenn scored the game-winning goal at 18:27 of the third period, leading the St. Louis Blues to a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday.

Oskar Sundquist, Justin Faulk and Alexey Toropchenko also scored for the Blues. Joe Hofer recorded 22 saves.

Pavel Dorofeyev, Mark Stone and Keegan Kolesar scored for the Golden Knights, who are 1-5-2 in their last eight games. Vegas has allowed four or more goals in five of those games.

Carter Hart saved 15 shots for Vegas.

Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb sat out with an upper-body injury sustained Wednesday against Nashville, snapping his 298 consecutive games played. It was the 10th-longest active streak.

St. Louis scored two goals in 58 seconds of the second period for a 3-1 lead. Faulk scored on a wrist shot from the right circle goal at 5:39 and Sundqvist on a snap shot at 6:37.

Vegas cut it to 3-2 on a goal by Stone and tied it at 3 on Dorofeyev’s goal at 8:29 of the third period.

Each team scored a goal in the first period. Vegas went up 1-0 at 10:12 on a goal by Kolesar, his first goal this season.

St. Louis tied it just 27 seconds later when Toropchenko scored on a rebound of his shot.

The Blues were awarded a penalty shot at 3:44 when Noah Hanifin slashed Jordan Kyrou on a breakaway. Kyrou skated into the slot but was thwarted by Hart’s glove save.

Jack Eichel, who had been out with a lower body injury, returned to play for Vegas after missing seven consecutive games He is two assists away from 400 in his career.

Golden Knights: Will play Sunday night in Chicago.

Blues: Host Montreal on Saturday afternoon.

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Vegas Golden Knights' Ben Hutton (17) passes as St. Louis Blues' Brayden Schenn (10) watches during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Blues' Justin Faulk (72) celebrates after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vegas Golden Knights Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Blues' Brayden Schenn (10) scores past Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) and Ivan Barbashev (49) as teammate Jimmy Snuggerud (21) watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Blues' Brayden Schenn (10) and Vegas Golden Knights' Ben Hutton (17) battle for a loose puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Blues' Otto Stenberg (28) and Vegas Golden Knights' Brett Howden (21) chase after a loose puck along the boards during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Carolina (8-8) at Tampa Bay (7-9)

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. EST, ESPN

BetMGM NFL odds: Buccaneers by 2 1/2

Against the spread: Panthers 9-7; Buccaneers 5-11

Series record: Panthers lead 25-24.

Last meeting: Panthers beat Buccaneers 23-20 on Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C.

Last week: Panthers lost to Seahawks 27-10; Buccaneers lost to Dolphins lost 20-17.

Panthers offense: overall (27), rush (11), pass (26), scoring (27).

Panthers defense: overall (15), rush (19), pass (14), scoring (16).

Buccaneers offense: overall (22), rush (21), pass (20), scoring (17).

Buccaneers defense: overall (20), rush (7), pass (26), scoring (22).

Turnover differential: Panthers 0; Buccaneers plus-5.

Bryce Young. The third-year QB had one of his better games in a 23-20 win over the Bucs two weeks ago, completing 21 of 32 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns, while also leading the go-ahead field-goal drive. However, Young stumbled last week and was held to 54 yards passing by the Seattle Seahawks with his longest reception going for just 8 yards.

Veteran wide receiver Mike Evans could be playing his last game with the Buccaneers or in the NFL if he chooses to retire. Evans has 14 catches for 194 yards and two TDs in three games since he returned from a broken clavicle.

Panthers receivers vs Buccaneers secondary. Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. McMillan had six catches for 73 yards and one touchdown in the previous matchup, beating Jamel Dean on a fade for the score. Coker had three catches for 47 yards against the Bucs. Dean is out for this one and Zyon McCollum is on injured reserve so the Bucs will be without their two starting cornerbacks.

Panthers: The biggest injury question is whether guard Robert Hunt, the highest-paid offensive lineman in franchise history, will return this week. Hunt has been out since Week 2 with a torn biceps, but the Panthers activated his 21-day practice window this week and he has been back on the field working as a full participant. However, coach Dave Canales hasn’t said whether Hunt will play this week against the Bucs.

Buccaneers: Dean (shoulder) and OLB Anthony Nelson (knee) won’t play. ... DT Calijah Kancey (pectoral) is aiming to return for the first time since Week 2.

The Bucs had won five straight against the Panthers — including four with Baker Mayfield at quarterback — until Carolina snapped the streak two weeks ago. Mayfield is 5-1 in his career against the Panthers.

The Panthers are 3-6 in Saturday games as a franchise. … QB Bryce Young has six touchdown passes and one interception in his past four games. … RB Rico Dowdle was a huge contributor in the running game during a stretch of games where the Panthers won four of five earlier this season. However, Dowdle hasn’t eclipsed 60 yards rushing in any of his past seven games. … RB Chuba Hubbard lost a fumble against Seattle last week leading to a Seahawks touchdown. … With their two fourth down conversions vs. Seattle, the Panthers offense now has 25 this season, the most in a season by any team since at least 1978 according to Elias. Carolina surpassed its previous franchise best of 23 in 2023, and the NFL mark of 24 by Cleveland last season. … WR Tetairoa McMillan needs 71 yards to become only the second rookie in franchise history with 1,000 yards receiving. Kelvin Benjamin holds the team record (1,008) for yards receiver by a rookie. … CB Mike Jackson leads the NFL with 19 pass breakups and had an interception last week against Sam Darnold. … Rookie K Ryan Fitzpatrick has four game-winning field goals this season. ... Panthers coach Dave Canales was the Buccaneers offensive coordinator in 2023. ... The Buccaneers have played in nine games decided by four or fewer points this season, most in a single season in franchise history. They’re 5-4 in those games with four straight losses. ... QB Baker Mayfield has thrown eight interceptions in the past seven games after only two in the first nine. ... Mayfield’s 11 300-yard passing performances since arriving in Tampa Bay are tied for the fourth most in the NFL, trailing only Jared Goff (16), Dak Prescott (13) and Joe Burrow (12). ... WR Emeka Egbuka needs 70 yards to become the third rookie in club history to reach 1,000, joining Michael Clayton (1,193 in 2004) and Mike Evans (1,051 in 2014). ... RB Sean Tucker leads the team with seven rushing TDs.

McMillan is facing a secondary missing its two starting cornerbacks. He’s also 1 yard behind Egbuka for the rookie lead.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Miami Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones (23) tackles Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (11) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield looks to pass against the Miami Dolphins during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young celebrates after scoring against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young passes against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)