LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tanner Laczynski scored his first goal of the season, Adin Hill stopped 23 shots and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-1 on Saturday night.
The Golden Knights have totaled a league-high 33 points while going 16-3-1 since Nov. 21 to take over the No. 1 spot in the NHL with 57 points — leapfrogging Winnipeg, which Jets, which lost to Detroit.
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Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) skates for the puck against Vegas Golden Knights center Tanner Laczynski (28) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)
Buffalo Sabres right wing Nicolas Aube-Kubel (96) lifts the stick of Vegas Golden Knights right wing Jonas Rondbjerg (46) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)
Buffalo Sabres goaltender James Reimer (47) makes a save against Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) skates with the puck against Buffalo Sabres left wing Zach Benson (9) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)
Buffalo Sabres right wing Nicolas Aube-Kubel (96) skates with the puck against Vegas Golden Knights left wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)
Vegas Golden Knights center Tanner Laczynski (28) scores against Buffalo Sabres goaltender James Reimer, second from bottom left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
Mark Stone and Jack Eichel also scored for Vegas, while Tanner Pearson added two assists.
Jason Zucker scored for Buffalo and James Reimer made 30 saves. The Sabres closed out a four-game road trip with a third-straight loss.
Sabres: Buffalo arrived in Vegas on a three-game win streak against Vegas. The Sabres had outscored the Golden Knights 15-6 in the three previous meetings.
Golden Knights: During Vegas’ 20-game stretch since Nov. 21, it’s allowed a league-low 2.20 goals per game. The Knights have allowed two goals or fewer in 14 of those games.
Early in the third period, with the Sabres showing a bit of pep in their step, Rasmus Dahlin drove in on the right side and fired a wrist shot shoulder high, but Hill’s quick glove snared the puck to thwart Buffalo’s momentum.
Stone’s goal was the 600th point of his career. According to the NHL, he became the eighth-fastest active Canadian player to reach the mark.
Sabres host Washington on Monday night, while the Golden Knights visit San Jose on Tuesday night.
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Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) skates for the puck against Vegas Golden Knights center Tanner Laczynski (28) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)
Buffalo Sabres right wing Nicolas Aube-Kubel (96) lifts the stick of Vegas Golden Knights right wing Jonas Rondbjerg (46) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)
Buffalo Sabres goaltender James Reimer (47) makes a save against Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) skates with the puck against Buffalo Sabres left wing Zach Benson (9) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)
Buffalo Sabres right wing Nicolas Aube-Kubel (96) skates with the puck against Vegas Golden Knights left wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)
Vegas Golden Knights center Tanner Laczynski (28) scores against Buffalo Sabres goaltender James Reimer, second from bottom left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
A major winter blast of snow, ice, wind and plunging temperatures in the U.S. stirred dangerous travel conditions from central and southern states all the way to the East Coast early Monday, prompting schools and government offices in several states to close.
Over the weekend, at least 600 motorists were stranded in Missouri, authorities said. Hundreds of car accidents were reported in Virginia, Indiana, Kansas and Kentucky.
Here's the latest:
In Texas, the state’s independent grid operator issued a weather warning Monday for residents to be aware of cold temperatures.
Forecasts show major cities like Houston hitting below 30 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 1 degree Celsius) throughout the week. Grid conditions are expected to remain normal despite the higher demand for electricity and experts don’t foresee any major problems to occur.
President Joe Biden and his team are closely monitoring the severe winter weather across much of the U.S., the White House said in a statement Monday.
White House spokesperson Jeremy Edwards said Biden has directed senior White House Officials to be in close touch with their state and local counterparts in the affected areas. Support will be offered as needed.
“We want to encourage all Americans affected by this weather to take it seriously, continue to monitor forecasts, and heed the warnings of local officials," Edwards said.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear urged residents to stay off the roads Monday as highway crews continued to clear roadways.
“This is a significant snow and ice event, so the roadways are still dangerous,” the governor said. “You might be able to see the pavement but that doesn’t mean that it’s not slick. A half an inch of ice is very hard to treat, especially when it coats everything.”
Kentucky State Police dispatchers reported more than 170 vehicle accidents and over 280 stranded motorists who were helped, he said.
The thoroughbreds residing at storied Calumet Farm in central Kentucky were riding out the winter storm in the safety of their stalls. The horses were led back to the barns Sunday afternoon before freezing rain turned pastures into a slick glaze of snow and ice.
“The ice is the worst part,” Eddie Kane, the farm manager at Calumet, said Monday. “I still haven’t turned them out because it’s still a little bit too dangerous. It’s like an ice-skating rink out there in the fields.”
The horses do fine in the snow, he said, but the ice created too much risk to keep them outside.
“Horses would rather be outside than in a stall,” Kane said. “But I just do it for my own peace of mind.”
Grain rations are bumped up for the horses amid the cold and they eat as much hay as they want, Kane said.
Marion County Public Health Department offices in Indianapolis were closed Monday due to poor weather. All clinics and walk-in services operated by the health department also are closed. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning Monday for the Indianapolis area, with snow possible, a high temperature near 28 degrees Fahrenheit and wind gusts as high as 32 mph.
An essential travel watch due to snow was declared Sunday night for Wayne County, Richmond and Centerville, all in eastern Indiana. Only essential travel, like driving to and from work or school, essential medical care, and for supplies or shelter, will be permitted on county roads under the declaration, according to the county. Parking on all county roads and their right-of-way is prohibited.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on Sunday activated the state’s National Guard to assist state and local responders with support during the winter storm.
In Virginia, state police said in a news release they responded to more than 200 crashes between 4 p.m. Sunday and 4 a.m. Monday, although not all were storm related.
Several accidents included injuries, while one was fatal. A 32-year-old man died around midnight in Wakefield, which is south of Richmond, after his truck ran off the road and struck a tree. Police said he was driving too fast for roadway conditions and wasn’t wearing a seat belt, while alcohol appears to be a factor.
A record 8 inches of snow fell Sunday at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, leading to dozens of flight cancellations that lingered into Monday.
A few more inches of snow was expected Monday across the Cincinnati area, where car and truck crashes Monday morning shutdown at least two major routes leading into downtown.
School closings are expected to be widespread Monday. Districts in Indiana, Virginia and Kentucky began announcing cancellations and delays on Sunday afternoon. Kentucky’s Jefferson County Public Schools canceled classes, extracurricular activities and athletics for its nearly 100,000 students.
Classes also have been cancelled in Maryland, where Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency Sunday and announced the state government would be closed Monday.
“Keeping Marylanders safe is our top priority. Please stay off the roads during this storm. Prepare your home and family and charge your communications devices in case you lose power,” Moore said in a statement.
National Park Service workers shovel a pathway during a winter storm at the White House, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Workers clear steps at the Capitol as snow falls ahead of a joint session of Congress to certify the votes from the Electoral College in the presidential election, in Washington, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Snow falls during a winter storm at the White House, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
National Park Service workers shovel a pathway during a winter storm at the White House, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Snow falls at the Capitol ahead of a joint session of Congress to certify the votes from the Electoral College in the presidential election, in Washington, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Workers clear steps at the Capitol as snow falls ahead of a joint session of Congress to certify the votes from the Electoral College in the presidential election, in Washington, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
A car slowly navigates a snow-covered interstate Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
A person who declined to be identified jogs down a snow-covered street Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Enrique Davila crosses the street with his dog, Chula, as heavy snow falls Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Workers clear the plaza at the Capitol as snow falls ahead of a joint session of Congress to certify the votes from the Electoral College in the presidential election, in Washington, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Snow covers homes during a winter storm, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
A person crosses a street as heavy snow falls Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Ice encases tree branches in downtown Lexington, Ky., on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP)
Ice and snow cover a sidewalk in downtown Lexington, Ky., on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP)
