Chandler Stephenson had two goals and an assist as the Vegas Golden Knights set a franchise record with their ninth consecutive victory, defeating the host Anaheim Ducks 5-1 Saturday night.

William Carrier, William Karlsson and Shea Theodore also scored, and goaltender Robin Lehner made 23 saves for the Golden Knights (34-11-2, 70 points), who moved four points ahead of Colorado atop the West Division. The Avalanche lost 5-3 at St. Louis on Saturday, though they still have two games in hand on Vegas.

Sam Steel scored and goalie John Gibson stopped 26 of 31 shots for last-place Anaheim (14-27-7, 35 points), which has lost four in a row and six of its past eight games.

Stephenson scored twice in the first period and has 12 goals this season, a career high.

Stephenson tallied on the first shot of the game, just 28 seconds into the first period, taking a pass from behind the net from Max Pacioretty and putting a one-timer past Gibson from between the faceoff dots.

Stephenson made it 2-0 at 14:44 of the period, taking a long lead pass from Theodore at the Anaheim blue line, spinning around and beating a defenseman on a breakaway before putting a wrister past Gibson.

Carrier made it 3-0 at 6:12 of the second following an Anaheim turnover at its offensive blue line. Alex Pietrangelo gained control of the puck and skated up the right wing, with Carrier joining him on a two-on-one break. Carrier took a pass in the slot and whipped a one-timer into the net.

Steel got the Ducks on the scoreboard 2:00 minutes into the third period, poking the puck into the net following a mad scramble out front. Troy Terry and Alexander Volkov were each credited with an assist.

Karlsson and Theodore scored at 5:39 and 7:17 of the third, respectively, to help clinch the victory.

The Golden Knights played without forward Reilly Smith for the third consecutive game because of an undisclosed injury.

Anaheim wore its reverse retro "Wild Wing" jerseys with a cartoon duck on the front.

--Field Level Media