Defending Stanley Cup Champs Win In Vegas Saturday: Colorado 3 Golden Knights 2
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Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
Pregame: The Colorado Avalanche have blown into Las Vegas amid a dust storm, high winds and a cold front sweeping through Southern Nevada. The defending Stanley Cup champs are 2-2-1 on the season, while the Golden Knights have won four their first five games, with their sole loss coming north of the border against the Calgary Flames.
Just the facts: Colorado Avalanche 3 Vegas Golden Knights 2
VGK goal scorers: Jonathan Marchessault (5), Chandler Stephenson (2)
Attendance: 18,207
Vegas record: 4-2-0 for 8 points
Storyline: Colorado dominated first period, Vegas controlled third period but VGK still “working out kinks,” according to VGK captain Mark Stone.
Next game: Monday at 7 PM vs Toronto
Postgame quotes: Logan Thompson assesses his play tonight and Mark Stone on team scoring more goals
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It was a packed arena tonight with the Colorado club in Vegas on a Saturday night.
The Avs took it to the Golden Knights in period one, but Vegas had to feel fortunate to escape the first 20 minutes with a 1-1 tie.
Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon blasted a slapper from the left circle, Ovi-Stammer style, past VGK goalie Logan Thompson on a power play to open the night’s scoring.
But in the period’s final minute, the Knights matched Colorado’s power play goal with a man advantage tall of their own when Jonathan Marchessault fired a shot by Avs netminder Alexander Georgiev.
It was 1-1 after one.
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Brett Howden was hit with a penalty and Colorado cashed in with another power play goal. It was another left circle slapshot that looked a lot like MacKinnon’s first period goal. This time, it was Evan Rodrigues blasting the puck past Thompson.
And the Avs led the VGK, 2-1, in the middle of the middle stanza.
The T-Mobile Arena center scoreboard’s stats and period time were not working in period two. Fans could follow the time and numbers on the ribbon video board that wraps around the arena between the lower and upper bowls.
MacKinnon was whistled for a penalty with a mere second left in the second period.
So, the Knights will open the third period with a power play.
After two periods, the Avs led Vegas, 2-1.
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The Knights failed to convert on a power play chance and it cost Vegas.
Shortly after Colorado killed the penalty, the Avs’ talented Valeri Nichushkin skated around the VGK players on the ice and popped a shot into the upper right corner of the net to give the Stanley Cup champs a 3-1 lead midway though the third period.
The VGK did respond with a goal to cut the deficit to 3-2 when Chandler Stephenson was cruising in front of the Avs net and received a short pass from Jack Eichel and slipped the puck past Georgiev.
The Knights had a few chances to knot the game, but came up short.
Final: Colorado 3 Vegas 2
