Announced Crowd Of 17,954 VGK Fans Enjoy Nate Schmidt Bobbleheads, But Watch Sluggish 4-1 Loss Wednesday

 

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell 

 

There was VGK defenseman Nate Schmidt handing out bobbleheads fashioned in his likeness in the T-Mobile Arena lobby 40 minutes before faceoff. It was pure Nate — swapping salutations with Golden Knights fans and posing for pictures before Wednesday’s VGK-Colorado Avalanche preseason game.

It might be preseason, but the Knights management believes in making these games as entertaining as possible. And the bobbleheads are being handed out to every fan before each of the four home preseason games. It was a Mark Stone bobblehead for preseason game one.

The bobbleheads were the highlight for the VGK fans as the team lacked juice and energy on the ice, losing 4-1 to the Avs. Granted, it was preseason, but the Knights showed little intensity, mustering a mere 11 shots on goal through the first two periods. The Knights had only six shots in the third period for a total of 17. The team scored with 17 seconds left to avoid the shutout.

The game had the pace and buzz of a scrimmage at City National Arena, only that there were announced 17,954 fans at T-Mobile Arena instead of the few hundred at the CNA training center in Summerlin. The Knights has starters like Jonathan Marchessault, Paul Stastny and Stone. But others like William Karlsson, Max Pacioretty, Marc-Andre Fleury and Schmidt did not lace up their skates.

But bobbleheads!

Even the Knights coach, Gerard Gallant, said the game was difficult to watch and the players didn’t have the usual zip. The game came after two days off, which could have led to the sluggish play.

The arena emcee, Wayne Danielson who plays “Big D,” tried to stoke the crowd at the start of the third period: “Ain’t no party like a Golden Knights party. Are you ready to rock the fortress?”

There were some cheers. And then a quiet third period and a 4-1 loss. It’s preseason hockey.

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