Rasmus Andersson hoped Jack Eichel saw him coming down the offensive zone with speed. It’s almost comical to think Eichel wouldn’t, but he did.

The Vegas Golden Knights defenseman received a perfect cross-ice pass from Eichel near the right circle, and Andersson zipped the puck past Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov just over one minute into Saturday’s 6-2 win.

“With Jack, you’ve always got to expect it,” Andersson said. “It was a hell of a pass.”

The pass got the attention, but the finish was an exclamation point for what’s been a strong week for Andersson.

Andersson — who prior to Monday had one point through six games — has two goals and four points in his last four games. He’ll look to build off that Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The offensive-minded defenseman also leads the team with 11 shots in that span.

Andersson’s uptick has come due to a shift on the Knights’ blue line with Parker Wotherspoon out week to week with an upper-body injury.

“I think I’m just shooting a little bit more. Being a bit more active,” Andersson said.

Locker neighbor Jeremy Lauzon chimed in mid-sentence: “Playing with No. 5.”

Lauzon isn’t wrong. He and Andersson have put together a good stretch while skating together.

The Knights have outscored opponents 3-0 when Lauzon and Andersson have been on the ice the last three games, per Natural Stat Trick.

“He’s an easy guy to play with,” Andersson said. “He’s one of those that steps up, he hits and he’s very predictable to play with. He makes it very easy for your partner.”

Call it a need to get his offense going, or that he needed to step up in the absence of the guy to his left. Andersson has reaped the benefits of the current situation.

“I think Andy’s done a good job here building his game as the season’s gone on,” coach Ryan Craig said. “It’s just been a continual build for him.”

The Knights hoped Wotherspoon would be a seamless fit with Andersson. Wotherspoon was coming off a career year in Pittsburgh, scoring 30 points while skating with three-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson.

Instead, the Knights had been outscored 7-1 with Wotherspoon and Andersson together, according to Natural Stat Trick, and gave up 22 high-danger chances.

As tough as it is for Wotherspoon to not get into a groove with his new team, it’s worked out in the Knights’ favor.

Wotherspoon’s absence has straightened the structure of the Knights defense. Noah Hanifin moved back to his strong side, with Dylan Coghlan drawing in the lineup and making his season debut Tuesday in Nashville.

The road trip in Minnesota and Nashville is where Andersson hit his stride. His first goal Monday felt inevitable. He had two dangerous chances earlier in the game that were slightly off.

The goal was a typical Andersson one: A blast from the point that topped 90 miles per hour.

“He’s one of those guys where he’s got a great shot,” Eichel said. “He sees the ice well and he gets those opportunities. It seems like he finishes plays off pretty well. It’s been great to see and he’s been a big part of it.”

Craig said Andersson has done a better job of putting himself in the right spots to get the puck when coming through the neutral zone. His goal Saturday is a perfect example of that.

Andersson said it was easy to not get stressed that the production wasn’t coming at the start of the season. Especially now that he has the seven-year contract under his belt.

The goals eased the weight off Andersson’s shoulders, especially since he didn’t score in the playoffs after scoring a career-high 17 goals last season.

“It’s an 84-game season. You just got to relax,” Andersson said. “Sometimes, you’ve got to tell yourself that, too. Just relax and play. It’s one of those things where you just let it come to you.”

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