As the puck bounced off Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard and trickled through the crease, there was a brief moment when Cody Eakin realized what was about to happen.
The Golden Knights center paused for a half-beat to savor the pending milestone and then emphatically swatted his 20th goal into the open net.
“It was a bit of a relief,” Eakin recalled. “There was no one within a few feet, so I dusted it off and made sure I put it in.
“A little extra sweep.”
Eakin is one of five players — six if you count trade deadline addition Mark Stone — to reach the 20-goal plateau this season for the Knights.