By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
LVSportsBiz.com photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
The Golden Knights’ lengthy seven-game homestand ended with a whimper as the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Knights, 3-0, before an announced crowd of 18,4000 Saturday night.
The Knights won the first four games of the homestand, but then lost the last three games to Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and Columbus tonight.
The Knights were shut out with 27 shots on goal against Blue Jackets netminder Elvis Merzlikins.
In his postgame comments, VGK coach Gerard Gallant mentioned he thought the Knights were skating in sand and lacked a spark against a tough team like the Blue Jackets. Some key Gallant quotes are highlighted here:
They Golden Knights have been stuck on 54 points this week with the three consecutive losses. Check out the standings — five teams separated by a mere three points.
The next home game for the Knights is Feb. 8 when the Carolina Hurricanes come to Las Vegas. That’s 28 days away. The Knights hit the road and also have a week off during the next month.
There are few fans quite like Flagman Matt Helfst who is known for his twin Golden Knights flags on the 17-foot-long flagpole he carries to VGK games and practices. He also has a few Raiders flags up his sleeve and even was contacted by the Las Vegas Lights FC soccer team to wave a flag at Lights games where they truly adore flag waving.
Here, Matt swapped out a VGK flag for an Irish one to honor Irishman UFC fighter Conor “Mr Shenanigans” McGregor who fights Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246 next Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. Not only is the Flagman quite dedicated, Matt’s also quite versatile in his flags.
There’s no usher at T-Mobile Arena quite like Arnold, who was assigned at the top of the steps and escalator on the main concourse to greet VGK fans who came up from the venue’s main lobby. Everyone who roots for the Knights gets a high five and verbal greeting.
Arnold doesn’t give a high five to Columbus Blue Jackets fans, though. When Blue Jackets fans come up to the main concourse, Arnold gives them the high elbow instead of the high five.
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