Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
Normalcy in Las Vegas Saturday night. Just not wins.
The powerful Colorado Avalanche visited T-Mobile Arena to play the sluggish Vegas Golden Knights. UNLV called for a “black out” in its big conference basketball game with Mountain West-leading Boise State at the Thomas & Mack Center. And the Piano Man from Long Island, gray goateed hitmaker Billy Joel, brought out the masses to Allegiant Stadium.
This two-mile Vegas triangle of sports and venues unleased some 60,000 fans simultaneously near the south end of the Strip, which was crawling with mostly mask-less sport-entertainment denizens cheering for a VGK goal, Runnin’ Rebels bucket and Billy Joel favorite hit like Zanzibar.
It’s part of the Las Vegas economic recovery that Gov. Steve Sisolak crowed about in his 21-minute state-of-the-state speech on an off-year at the stadium that he adores — Allegiant Stadium, which is run by the NFL Raiders.
Things got off to a rousing start for the Golden Knights when speedy forward Chandler Stephenson flew in all alone on Colorado netminder Darcy Kuemper and beat the goalie with his 14th goal of the season to give the VGK a 1-0 lead in period one only 4:07 into the game.
But after the Knights killed a two-minute hooking penalty taken by forward Keegan Kolesar, Avs winger Andre Burakovsky buried a shot past VGK goalie Laurent Brossoit 7:10 into the game and the game was tied at 1-1 despite the Knights controlling most of the action.
The Knights responded with a tie-breaker thanks to a gorgeous feed by winger Reilly Smith to fellow Misfit linemate Jonathan Marchessault flying up the left wing. He took the pass and with one knee on the ice Marchessault fired a bullet past Kuemper at the 8:31 mark. It was the Knights 2 on Marchy’s 21st goal of the season and Avalanche 1.
*
Over at Thomas & Mack Center two miles to the east down Tropicana Avenue, the Runnin’ Rebels got off to a slow start as Boise State made its first three shots from three-point land and led UNLV, 15-7. Boise State then extended its lead to 25-15 in the first half before UNLV cut into the lead, 40-34, with 3:40 to go in the first half.
UNLV called for everyone to wear black tonight as the Runnin’ Rebels entered the game with a three-game winning streak. including a decisive 21-point win over a very good Colorado State team.
The Rebs broke out some promotions to juice up the game:
Boise State led UNLV, 47-41, at the half.
It was also a big day for the Lady Rebels as UNLV’s women’s basketball team clinched the regular season championship of the Mountain West with an 80-69 win over Colorado State. The Lady Rebels are 23-5.
*
Over at Allegiant Stadium where Billy Joel was getting ready to play his classics, an LVSportsBiz.com mole passed along these photos of the scene there.
The mole said about 45,000 attended the Metallica concert Friday night and another 35,000 were expected for Billy Joel tonight.
*
The Golden Knights played well for most of the first period. They ended the first 20 minutes with a 2-1 lead, outshooting Colorado by a 15-6 mark.
After three goals in the first nine minutes of the game, there were no goals for 31 minutes.
After two periods, the score was the same as the score after the first period: Vegas 2 Colorado 1.
*
During the VGK-Colorado second intermission between periods two and three, UNLV and Boise State were battling. With 3:56 to go in the second half, UNLV trailed by five, 74-69.
UNLV never caught up. The final from Thomas & Mack Center: Boise State 86 UNLV 76.
Meanwhile, the Knights also stumbled in their final stanza. Colorado scored two goals 26 seconds apart midway through the final period to reverse a 2-1 deficit to a 3-2 lead thanks to J.T. Compher’s 10th goal of the season (matching his goals from last season) and a goal by Avs star Nathan MacKinnon, his 15th.
While the VGK inserted gifted Jack Eichel into the lineup, the Knights did place captain Mark Stone on the long-term IR to comply with the $81.5 million salary cap. Missing tonight with injuries were also Max Pacioretty and Mattias Janmark.
The Knights did produce 36 shots on goal. But the end product was two goals in the first period.
LVSportsBiz.com looked around the arena and guestimated an attendance of 18,375. Official announced attendance came in at 18,333. It was a lively crowd with lots of Avs fans in the house.
The Knights pulled Brossoit for an extra skater with about two minutes to go, trailing, 3-2, to Colorado.
It didn’t help.
Final: Colorado 3 Vegas 2.
Next VGK game: Tuesday when San Jose visits T-Mobile Arena.
Next UNLV hoops game: Wednesday when Wyoming visits Thomas & Mack Center.