The Vegas Golden Knights feel like their game is starting to turn a corner.

That gradual climb will be tested next week, but back-to-back wins have put them in a good head space mentally.

Saturday was thanks to a three-goal first period and a complete effort for a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena.

The Knights won consecutive games for the first time since winning three straight from Feb. 4-25.

The week started with winnable games the Knights lost — Sunday against Edmonton, then Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to red-hot Dallas.

They’ve turned that into a strong start on their four-game homestand, outscoring Pittsburgh and Chicago by a combined 10-2.

“I think we were playing well when we were getting those losses,” defenseman Kaedan Korczak said. “Just a couple of tough bounces. We’re just starting to turn the corner. We’re playing a full 60 minutes and I think it showed tonight.”

Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice for the second straight game, and Adin Hill made 21 saves for his first shutout of the season in his fourth consecutive start.

The Knights (31-22-14) took a 3-0 lead 12 minutes in with three goals in 3:27 thanks to Dorofeyev, Rasmus Andersson and Keegan Kolesar.

Mitch Marner and Mark Stone had two assists each.

“I’m sure the group feels a lot better about themselves than they did, say, Wednesday,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We got a couple of wins now. We’ve had good first periods. We’re cleaning that part of our game up. Our special teams are playing well.”

Here are three takeaways from the win:

1. Andersson gets rewarded

The Knights’ prized trade acquisition finally had his moment with his new team.

Andersson scored his first goal at T-Mobile Arena, and second with the Knights, at 11:35 of the first to put his team up 2-0.

Dorofeyev won a puck battle near the corner and got it to defenseman Noah Hanifin along the half wall. He looked up to see his blue line partner alone near the right circle and his shot beat Chicago goalie Spencer Knight.

Andersson celebrated with his trademark staredown to the crowd.

Asked if the staredown felt good, Andersson said, “It did.”

“It feels like I haven’t been shooting as much as I should lately, so just to get into that rhythm again, I think I have a pretty good shot,” Andersson said. “Just keep shooting and generate a little bit more and I think personally, I should be fine. So it felt good. Felt really good.”

Andersson had three shots in 23:38.

Cassidy has talked about wanting more offense from his defensemen in an attempt to find ways to score goals.

Wide-open looks from the circle will help with that.

2. Korczak getting physical

There were 39 hits combined but plenty of extra-curricular after the whistle.

One involved the Knights’ young defenseman mixing it up with one of the best young players in the world.

Korczak and Chicago star Connor Bedard were given matching roughing penalties late in the first period after getting tangled behind the Knights net.

“I just went for the boxout and he wasn’t too happy with it,” Korczak said, smiling. “Just kind of went at it, I guess.”

That was begging for Korczak to have a target on his back. He had reinforcements on his left side with Jeremy Lauzon ready to back him up.

It’s the second game in a row Korczak has gotten involved physically. He stood up for Dorofeyev in the third period Thursday when he was caught in a scuffle with Penguins winger Anthony Mantha.

3. Video challenge assistance

Hill’s shutout was hanging by a thread early in the third period.

Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov appeared to score less than a minute into the third period on a blast from the point. Hill was screened well with no chance of stopping it.

But before the goal, Blackhawks winger Ryan Greene committed a hand pass behind the net.

Cassidy challenged for a missed stoppage. Normally that would’ve been video coach Dave Rogowski alerting him to challenge.

But Cassidy said it was Stone and defenseman Shea Theodore who caught it live and called for the challenge once Rogowski got confirmation.

“(Rogowski) was still going through the offsides. There was a point shot with traffic, so you got to look at goalie interference and there wasn’t any,” Cassidy said. “That was actually a pickup by our players. Sorry, Dave. You know I love you.

“Who knows how it would’ve played out from there? (It would make the score) it 4-1, but I’m happy (Hill) gets his shutout and they don’t get any life from it.”

Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.