It’s That Stanley Time: Golden Knights Launch Playoff Journey Sunday With 4-2 Win Over Minnesota Before Announced 18,016
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Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Two worlds. One city.
The Vegas Golden Knights began their journey in the Stanley Cup playoffs at T-Mobile Arena Sunday, while more than 60,000 WWE fans packed Allegiant Stadium two miles away.
That’s Las Vegas these days.
The National Hockey League franchise rules this market and the fans came ready tonight to see the Golden Knights open their seventh playoff run in eight years of existence. Gold jerseys filled the arena of 18,016 fans and ol’ Strip veteran Carrot Top spun the siren to get things rolling for the VGK against the Minnesota Wild and their backup goalie, former Vegas fan favorite Marc-Andre Fleury.
The second-seeded Knights jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period when Tomas Hertl lifted the stick of Minnesota defenseman Brock Faber, stole the puck and fired a perfectly-placed shot past Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson.
But Minnesota before the teams hit the first intermission. The Wild’s superb forward, Kirill Kaprizov, fired a cross-ice pass to winger Matt Boldy, who beat VGK netminder Adin Hill.
It was 1-1 after one.
It was typical playoff hockey.
Only a lone goal was scored in period two.
It came from Hertl winning a power play faceoff in the offensive zone, getting the puck to defenseman Shea Theodore at the point and Theodore feeding a perfect pass to Pavel Dorofeyev, who fired the puck into a mostly open neck for a VGK 2-1 lead.
Vegas began to pull away in the third period with a goal by Brett Howden, who beat Gustavsson on the short side.
The Knights led, 3-1, midway through the final period.
A wraparound goal by Boldy cut the VGK lead to 3-2.
But Vegas held on.
Howden added an empty-netter at the buzzer. Millions of dollars changed hands when the goal was ruled good with the tally being the game’s sixth goal and not fifth when the over/under was 5 1/2.
Final: Vegas 4 Minnesota 2 in Round 1 Game 1.
After the game, VGK coach Bruce Cassidy observed the Knights played to their identity, the game was advertised and that Vegas will use its deep roster to have players share minutes to grind a team down during a Best-of-7 series.
See you Tuesday for Game 2.
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