Eichel scores in OT, Knights clinch playoff berth with 3-2 win over Avs

DENVER (AP) — Jack Eichel scored 1:19 into overtime, and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Saturday night to secure a playoff berth.

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

Knights goaltender Carter Hart, who finished with 30 saves, stoned Devon Toews on a shot and Eichel gathered the rebound. He skated down the left boards and beat Mackenzie Blackwood to win it.

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 getting hit in the head with the puck.

Keegan Kolesar was carrying the puck up along the boards in the neutral zone when he lifted it over into the Avs bench and struck 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 trainers and did not return to the bench. He was taken to a hospital after the game for a CT scan.

Colorado clinched the top overall seed with Thursday’s 3-1 win over Calgary, the third time in franchise history it has captured the Presidents’ Trophy. The Avs have a say in who wins the Pacific Division, too, 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 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-all, his first goal with the Avs.

Golden Knights: Host Winnipeg on Monday night.

Avalanche: At Edmonton on Monday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Colorado Avalanche center Nicolas Roy, left, struggles to control the puck as Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore covers in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Vegas Golden Knights left wing Brandon Saad (20) drives past Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski (70) in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner, left, puts a shot on Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche center Parker Kelly, front right, fights past Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson, back right, as goaltender Carter Hart stops a shot in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, front, reacts after scoring the winning goal as right wing Mark Stone celebrates in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Jeremiah Jackson finished a triple short of the cycle, Gunnar Henderson homered and the Baltimore Orioles beat the San Francisco Giants 6-2 on Saturday night.

Colton Cowser had two hits and Coby Mayo drove in two runs for the Orioles, who have won four of five.

Grant Wolfram (1-0) pitched a scorelss inning for the win as five Baltimore relievers combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings.

With the score tied 2-all in the fourth, Mayo's fielder's choice grounder scored Leody Tavares with the go-ahead run. Jackson followed with a double to score Mayo.

Jackson homered to left field against Caleb Kilian in the seventh and singled in the eighth.

Henderson gave the Orioles a 2-1 lead with a solo homer in the third, his sixth of the season.

Heliot Ramos had two hits and two RBIs for the Giants, who had won a season-high three straight. Logan Webb (1-2) allowed four runs and five hits over six innings.

Baltimore right-hander Chris Bassitt, roughed up for 10 runs in 6 1/3 innings over his first two starts, gave up two runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings while throwing 89 pitches.

Orioles cleanup hitter Pete Alonso went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and a walk to drop his batting average to .167.

Before the game, Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman was placed on the 10-day injured list with left ankle inflammation. Baltimore designated hitter Ryan Mountcastle exited in the second inning with left foot pain after stumbling between first and second on a double.

Giants second baseman Luis Arraez left in the fifth with a bruised right wrist. He had been kicked in the hand by baserunner Dylan Beavers in the fourth.

Giants right-hander Adrian Houser (0-1, 3.97 ERA) faces Baltimore lefty Cade Povich (0-0, 3.18) in Sunday’s series finale.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb reacts while returning to the dugout after the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Jeremiah Jackson (82) celebrates with Gunnar Henderson (2) after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

From left, Baltimore Orioles center fielder Leody Taveras (30), second baseman Jeremiah Jackson (82) and right fielder Colton Cowser celebrate their team's victory over the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson follows through on a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Jeremiah Jackson (82) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)