Golden Knights’ Biggest Home Crowd of 7,567 Cheers Marchessault OT Game-Winner Against Blues Friday
Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
Just the facts: Vegas Golden Knights 4 St. Louis Blues 3 overtime
Game-winner: Jonathan Marchessault
Record: VGK, 38-13-2 for 78 points, four points ahead of Colorado and five in front of Minnesota
OT record: VGK 9-0
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They flashed, “NOISE,” on the arena’s center-hung Jumbotron and more than 7,567 hearty fans screamed their brains out. More noise. More energy. More buzz. It was the biggest crowd in the NHL or NBA this COVID-19 pandemic season.
The Golden Knights’ first game this season with this many fans — up from the previous high of 3,950 — turned up the collective juice inside T-Mobile Arena Friday when the VGK hosted potential playoff first-round opponent, the St. Louis Blues.
These fans are the best in the league. They give us an advantage and we feed off their enthusiasm and their energy. — Golden Knights defenseman Alec Martinez
It began with a DJ playing loud tunes on the plaza before the game and a fan in the arena’s castle area for the first time this season for a contest before he sprung a marriage proposal on his girlfriend.
VGK forward Reilly Smith said between the first and second periods that it sounded like a packed arena even though he know about half the venue was filled.
Smith opened the scoring for the Knights at 13:23 of period one when he stuffed home a goal before St. Louis forward Ryan O’Reilly scored a shorthanded goal to tie the score at one after one period.
Growing up as a kid, one of the big things of wanting to be a professional athlete is wanting to play in front of fans. Having more and more in the building is amazing and it really helps with the momentum. — VGK goalie Robin Lehner
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Former VGKer David Perron haunted the Knights when he scored his 16th goal at 14:34 of period two and St. Louis led, 2-1.
Blues forward Jaden Schwartz then fired a shot that beat VGK netminder Robin Lehner at 16:18 for his seventh of the season and St. Louis increased its lead to 3-1.
With only 9.1 seconds left in the middle stanza, VGK defenseman Alec Martinez blasted a shot from the blue line and it found its way through a maze of players past St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington.
End of two periods, St. Louis 3 Vegas 2.
Every time they open up a new level of attendance, you can feel the energy in the building. We’re getting close to where we want to be that way. It’s sure starting to feel full. — Knights coach Pete DeBoer
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VGK forward Nic Roy wheeled and fired the equalizer at 6:52 of the third period and the Knights tied St. Louis at three thanks to Roy’s sixth of the season.
Then it was off to overtime.
The Knights improved to 9-0 in OTs this year when Marchessault fired home the winner and the biggest crowd in the NHL and NBA roared the VGK 4-3 win.
