By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
LVSportsBiz.com photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
There was a holiday spirit inside T-Mobile Arena Monday, and the Vegas Golden Knights were in a giving mood as the visiting Colorado Avalanche capitalized on some first period breaks and went on to defeat the VGK, 7-3.
The Golden Knights placed 18 shots on goal in period one. But the first stanza ended with the Knights down, 3-1.
Former Golden Knights center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare opened the scoring less than five minutes into the game, scoring like he did when the Avalanche whipped the Knights here in Las Vegas two months ago.
Bellemare had another big game against his former mates.
The Avs also scored a short-handed goal in period one.
“It’s a real good time for the break,” VGK coach Gerard Gallant said after the game.
The result was not what the home team fans hoped for, but they did come dressed for the occasion. The place was more than packed with attendance reported at 18,425 in a building where capacity is 17,367. After 20 home dates, the Knights are averaging 18,254 in attendance a game, or 105.1 percent of capacity.
Bellemare has haunted his former team, scoring the Avalanche’s fifth goal in period two. It was his sixth goal this season, with half of those goals coming against the Knights at the Big Ice House by the Strip.
The Avalanche led 5-2 after two periods.
It was a season-high seven goals scored on Fleury this season and only the second time Fleury has been scored on seven times in his long career. It was the most goals allowed by the Knights this year. Ryan Reaves, Max Pacioretty and William Carrier were the VGK goal-scorers. The Avs also cruised by the Knights, 6-1, Oct. 25.
The Knights enter the Christmas break 20-14-6 for 46 points after 40 games and are 5-3-2 in the last 10 games.
The NHL closes shop for Christmas, so no games Tuesday through Thursday. The Golden Knights return to action Friday when the VGK travels to Anaheim for a game with the Ducks before the Vegas squad plays a big division showdown game against Arizona Saturday.
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