Recap: It took forever but the 2021 Golden Knights season finally got underway against the Anaheim Ducks. Free agent star Alex Pietrangelo suited up for the first time, and newly signed Robin Lehner got the start in net.
The game got off to an incredibly fast start. Jonathan Marchessault scored his first goal just 1:07 into the season. A minute later Tomas Nosek added his first on a nifty between his legs assist from Ryan Reaves. With only 2:13 into their first game, the Golden Knights took an early 2-0 lead. Anaheim responded quickly after and cut Vegas’ lead in half. The Ducks kept pushing and tied the game 2-2 around the midway point of the period.
Both teams settled down in the middle frame. Shots on net were low with both goaltenders shutting down every scoring chance. After 40 minutes the contest was tied at two goals apiece.
The franchise’s first captain gave his team the 3-2 lead :49 seconds into the final period. Mark Stone scored his first of the season, assisted by Chandler Stephenson and new teammate Alex Pietrangelo. Feeling left out, Max Pacioretty joined the party and tallied his first of the season ten minutes later. Vegas took a 4-2 lead, regaining their two goal edge. Alex Tuch tapped in his first of the season with a late empty net goal.
With their 5-2 victory, Vegas wins the season opener for the third time in four seasons. Both teams will face off again on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena. Game is scheduled for 7 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: It was a sloppy first two periods that certainly would have led to some concern had it continued into the 3rd. But, it didn’t at all as the Golden Knights came out and played exactly like they needed to in the final frame and took over the game. They need to clean up their breakouts moving forwards, but they did tonight what good teams do, win when you don’t play your best. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena
- How much did 13/5 matter and what was the effect on ice-time.
- Diving into the VGK PP units. (One has no center?!?)
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Jonathan Marchessault
** Shea Theodore
* Mark Stone
Let's talk about the season opener. https://t.co/qMO4ExLLLU
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 15, 2021
VGK looked very comfortable there playing in the 6-on-5 situation. Very calm in their own zone, nothing in the dangerous areas. Lehner did the job on the long shots.
Paid off with a tap in empty netter for Tuch.
VGK are 1-0-0.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 15, 2021
When you are struggling to break out of your own zone, what's the best solution? Never let the puck in your own zone.
VGK has been so much better in the other two zones this period that the d-zone hasn't mattered at all.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 15, 2021
Mark Stone is just too damn good.
Absolutely unfair trying to get the puck off him and then he feeds the puck over to Pacioretty while being slashed. Unreal.
4-2 VGK
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 15, 2021
It's been 2 periods. I don't have good things to say, so I'm not going to say them… until after the 3rd if I still feel that way.
(It's Game 1, I'm not worried.)
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 15, 2021
I don't think I've ever heard Golden Pipes sing the lyric "Knight" and I 1000% hated it.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 15, 2021
DOC (Go Knights Go)
Solid 3rd period by Panda and the boys. Stoney certainly showed why he is our captain! Now it’s flowers turn Saturday to keep it rolling.
A VGK Fan
Still think Reaves is useless after last night Ken?
Ken Boehlke
Yes
Daryl
Reaves looked good at the start of the game and made a nice pass on that assist then it looked like he ran out of gas the rest of the game. He was slow and had no power in his hits
Mark
I don’t think Reaves or Lehner spit in our collective faces last night, they didn’t take a knee. I will say Reaves pass was awesome, a great assist. As pissed as I was at him, I still think he’s imposing, an intimidator. The 3rd period was good, we started to jell. What’s going on with Kolesar??? I like him, he’s young and intimidating too. Does he have a shot to get a lot of playing time ?
DOC (Go Knights Go)
Right ON, “fan”!
sb
Reaves is not useless at all. He’s very useful at $1 mill, not $1.75m.
Tim
I’ve always been a fan of Tomas Nosek always gives 110% now I’m becoming a fan of Zach Whitecloud he looks pretty good out there. Anyone can cheer for the stars but I enjoy watching these two guys. Good start of coarse there was some rust but that was expected. Saturday I think with everything on the line Flower will come out smoking. Go Knights
Daryl
Once my guy was benched by PDB last season I started to become a fan of Whitecloud myself. He likes to throw his body around and he actually plays defense. He needs to get a lot stronger along the boards as he is still losing those battles and he got caught out of position a few times, but he still looks good. Playing alongside a decent player (not Holden) I think he will look even better. I am worried though how he will look playing next to a rookie…. We can’t have two players bring our of position at the same time or not being able to back the other up when needed
sb
Knights began this season the same way they played last season. Take the first
two periods off and storm the third period. Can get away with that against last
place clubs, but not playoff bound teams. Bad habits are hard to break.
DOC (Go Knights Go)
I don’t think scoring two goals in the first few minutes, of the game, supports “taking a period off”. It was the FIRST game of the season. Things are not likely to look so good at times.
Daryl
Doc, I like your optimism. VGK looked pretty good the first 5 minutes then went way downhill after that until the 3rd period. I’m hoping it’s b/c of the first game and not much practice but I’m not so sure. It’s not like they stopped playing 6 months ago. Hopefully I am wrong
hdbiker7851
Noticed the Walrus flopping around like a seal – if I am not mistaken that was a criticism of Flower in some posts. The big difference Flower is much more agile
the president Elect- Hockey God
walrus is a big goalie who thinks and plays like he’s small goalie
Hdbiker7851
Two easy goals by the Ducks – not sure in his case size and thinking are in sinc. I am not sure if you are defending his actions or just making a general comment. In either case the knights can’t afford that type of performance for long. If they were playing Colorado with the walrus playing like that the numbers would be in double digits.
the president Elect- Hockey God
simple solutions for 2PP unit:
1) throw a center out there during a faceoff situation and if they lose draw switch center on one man line change
2) don’t put 2 pp unit out there on faceoff (certainly not in d zone of ice)
PS trump won bigly, and antifa stormed the capitol and instigated the riot (that is what they do)