Piiparinen, Hart power Golden Knights past Sharks in preseason shootout
The short version
- Vegas defeated San Jose 2-1 in a shootout in preseason play at SAP Center on Sept. 22, 2026.
- Rookie defenseman Juho Piiparinen, Vegas's first-round pick in June, played a strong two-way game.
- Carter Hart made 28 saves on 29 shots and stopped both decisive shootout attempts.
- Alexander Holtz scored the tying goal; Braeden Bowman notched the shootout winner.
- Vegas hosts Utah on Thursday and finishes the preseason against San Jose on Saturday.
Vegas edged San Jose 2-1 in a shootout at SAP Center on Monday behind a standout showing from rookie defenseman Juho Piiparinen and 28 saves from Carter Hart.
Juho Piiparinen, an 18-year-old defenseman selected by Vegas in the first round of June's draft following the Pavel Dorofeyev trade with the New York Rangers, delivered an encouraging performance in the Golden Knights' 2-1 shootout victory over the Sharks at SAP Center on Monday. Although he has faced professionals in Finland, the teenager looked comfortable against NHL-level competition, none more so than when he broke up a connection between Tyler Toffoli and Igor Chernyshov late in regulation to keep the game tied and send it to overtime.
San Jose carried much of the play over the first two periods while icing a lineup closer to its regular season group. Goaltender Carter Hart kept the visitors within reach, denying Michael Misa and Collin Graf among others before the Sharks finally converted on the power play after Joe Fleming took an elbowing penalty. A puck caromed off Vegas defenseman Antti Tuomisto straight to Misa, who put San Jose ahead.
Alexander Holtz answered for Vegas with a one-timer, with Braeden Bowman providing a screen at the net front. Holtz's line, alongside Tanner Laczynski and Jonas Rondbjerg, was the strongest two-way unit the Golden Knights rolled out, and Jackson Hallum generated quality scoring chances for a second straight preseason appearance.
Overtime solved nothing despite further stops from Hart. Matyas Sapovaliv and Ivar Stenberg traded shootout goals before Bowman beat Yaroslav Askarov between the pads, and Hart sealed the win by denying Chernyshov and Luca Cagnoni. Hart earned first-star honors with 28 saves on 29 shots, a .966 save percentage.
Vegas continues its preseason schedule at T-Mobile Arena, hosting the Utah Mammoth on Thursday before closing out the exhibition slate against San Jose again on Saturday.
