By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights got a crack at an NHL team besides the San Jose Sharks.
The battled-tested and Stanley Cup finalist Boston Bruins came to town Tuesday for a match-up of two of the upper echelon teams in the National Hockey League.
But VGK star goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury received little help from his defensemen as some costly Knights giveaways led to Boston scoring four straight goals in periods one and two after the Knights jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
On Pride Night when the Knights and the NHL focused on tolerance and acceptance, the VGK suffered their first loss of the young 2019-20 season, 4-3, before an announced crowd of 18,223.
VGK coach Gerard Gallant said the Knights struggled with puck management, noting three of the Bruins’ four goals came off the sticks of the Golden Knights.
Other players assessed the game during the postgame locker room session. First, defenseman Jon Merrill.
Here’s forward Max Pacioretty, who scored the Knights’ third goal in period three with the VGK trailing, 4-2.
And forward Reilly Smith.
The Knights controlled the flow of play in two opening season wins against division rival San Jose Sharks. But the Bruins were a different measuring stick — and the Knights struggled to control the pace of the game against a physically rough and skilled Boston team that lost in seven games to the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Final in June.
The night started strong for the Knights when Mark Stone registered a goal in period one.
Before the game, there was a long line of fans to buy the Pride Night T-shirts, which likely sold out at $25 a shirt. The Knights had 800 shirts made.
At least the Golden Knights flag guy was back on the plaza outside the arena before the game. Matt Helfst was tossed off the plaza before VGK’s season-opener Oct. 2.
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