Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
Just the facts: Vegas Golden Knights 7 Vancouver Canucks 4
Golden Knights goal scorers: Evgenii Dadonov (2 goals), Reilly Smith, Brayden McNabb, Jake Leschyshyn, Jonathan Marchessault (2 goals — his 100th and 101st of his VGK career)
Attendance: 18,261
Record: 9-6, including eight wins out of 10 games
Storyline: High-scoring game for Golden Knights, almost a pickup game feel with Mark Stone back in lineup adding emotion on ice.
Quote: “I was happy that my first goal was here. It was a nice play from Keegan and Dadonov. I was fortunate to be the end of that good play.” — Jake Leschyshyn
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Welcome back original Misfit, Brad Hunt, a Vancouver defenseman.
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The Golden Knights came out playing sluggishly.
In period one, JT Miller and Tanner Pearson of Vancouver less than three minutes apart to give the Canucks a 2-0 lead.
Well, I turned the puck over on my first shift for a goal. I took a penalty on my second shift for a goal. Couldn’t get any worse. I definitely felt better as the game went on. — Golden Knights’ Mark Stone on returning to play after an injury
But Evgenii Dadonov cleaned up a power play goal from close in with only 13.6 seconds left in period one to slice the Canucks lead in half.
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In period two, Reilly Smith and Brayden McNabb scored to give the Knights a 3-2 lead.
The McNabb goal was set up by a gorgeous steal by defensive mate Shea Theodore, who fed the Nabber for his second goal of the season.
But Vancouver’s Nils Hoglander sped in on goalie Robin Lehner, who made the save. But Hoglander got a hold of the rebound beneath Lehner and poked the puck into the net.
After two periods, it was Vancouver and Vegas tied at three apiece.
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Tonight’s non-complying mask fan goes to the bunch of fans in this tweet:
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Another Knights player scored his first goal. It was Jake Leschyshyn steering in a goal thanks to a gorgeous pass from Dadonov. The VGK 4-3 lead didn’t last long as Hoglander notched the equalizer.
But Jonathan Marchessault fired home a goal from the right side to give the Knights a 5-4 lead.
And Mark Stone fed Dadonov for a goal to give the VGK a 6-4 cushion. Marchy added an easy one for a 7-4 Golden Knights lead.
Final: Vegas 7 Vancouver 4 as the VGK have opened the six-game homestand winning three of three games.
Lehner, postgame: “I had a lot of fun out there. It was a pond hockey game back-and-forth. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that many odd-man rushes both ways. Fun to come away with a win. We just needed points.”