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By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Just the facts: New York Islanders 2 Vegas Golden Knights 0
Golden Knights goal scorers: none
Storyline: VGK’s best goal scorers sidelined with injuries, Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin was rock solid and VGK power play still anemic
Attendance: 17,699
Streak: Four losses in a row
Next home game: VGK vs Anaheim Ducks Friday 5PM
Quote: “It’s a long season” — VGK forward William Karlsson
VGK record: 1-4
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A Raiders-Golden Knights doubleheader on a Sunday is no big deal anymore. Been there, done it. On Sept, 26, the Raiders won an OT thriller over the Miami Dolphins, while the VGK played a preseason game after the Raiders game only a month ago.
The Golden Knights vs New York Islanders match is the second game of a major league sports doubleheader Sunday, with the Raiders taking care of the Philadelphia Eagles, 33-22, in a 1 PM game at Allegiant Stadium, a mere mile and a half from T-Mobile Arena.
Lots of Philadelphia fans fattened the county’s hotel room tax coffers for the NFL game and a hearty bunch of Islanders fans made the trip from metro New York City for tonight’s VGK game.
Tickets were going for $20 about 30 minutes before tonight’s Golden Knights game. It’s the VGK Ticket Exchange website for tickets being sold by other fans.
Here’s one fan’s assessment about why the mojo and buzz are missing.
Another fan cracked this joke:
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The Golden Knights are decimated by injuries forcing top scorers like Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone and Alex Tuch out of the lineup. Defensemen Alec Martinez and Zach Whitecloud missed the game, too. And forward Nolan Patrick was out with an upper-body injury.
The Islanders, like the Knights, went to the NHL semis the past two seasons. They’re a tough defensive squad and goalie Ilya Sorokin played well in the first two periods, stopping all 26 shots.
A little more than two minutes into the game, Josh Bailey picked up some loose change near the right of the crease and put the puck past VGK goalie Robin Lehner.
Talented Islanders forward Mathew Barzal fired a puck past Lehner from an impossible angle in the third period and the Isles had a 2-0 lead.
And that was the final: New York Islanders 2 Vegas 0.
Attendance was announced at 17,699.
A fan reaction:
The Knights had more shots than the Isles, 42-26.
But the Islanders had 44 hits to the VGK’s 19.
The Knights travel to Colorado Tuesday and Dallas Wednesday before returning to play the Ducks on Friday for a 5 PM start.