With Playoff Game-Like Feel, Golden Knights Squeeze Colorado, 1-0, On Valentine’s Day Sunday

February 14, 2021February 14, 2021 Alan Snel Alex Pietrangelo, Brayden McNabb, Marc Andre-Fleury, Max Pacioretty, Shea Theodore, Tomas Nosek, Zach Whitecloud

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

No more talk of red retro jerseys and golden helmets.

The Vegas Golden Knights got down to business this week to see how good a team they have as a new division rival during this condensed pandemic season — the Colorado Avalanche — squared off against the Knights in the first of four consecutive games Sunday.

Game one was at the Big Ice House by the Strip, where VGK netminder Marc-Andre Fleury was back in goal for a second straight day with goaltender Robin Lehner out. Defensemen Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb are also out with injuries, while forward Tomas Nosek is unavailable on the NHL COVID protocol list.

Fleury registered his 63rd career shutout in the Knights’ 1-0 win over the Avalanche. “It’s fun to get some wins here. We beat a good team today,” Fleury said after the game.

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The Knights are now 10-2-1 for 21 points with a 13-goal differential, while the Avs are 7-4-1 for 15 points and a 13-goal differential.

The Knights’ Max Pacioretty scored the game’s first and only goal early in period two thanks to a pass from VGK defenseman Zach Whitecloud. Take a look.

The 36-year-old Fleury looked solid. He played back-to-back games and was sharp against a well-rested team that hasn’t played since Feb. 2 because of COVID-19 issues.

“They had a lot of opportunities to take advantage of us there. However, we were able to hold down the fort, especially Flower,” Pacioretty said after the game.

The Knights applied the pressure late in the second period and came away leading, 1-0, after two periods. Colorado was out-shooting VGK, 20-18, after period two.

The Avs outshot trhe VGK, 30-24, for the game.

“It takes time to adjust,” VGK defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said of the transition from playing in St. Louis to Las Vegas.

Fans might be back in this building as early as March 1. They will see in-game entertainment like the Vegas showgirls and more: