The game got off to a slow start with neither team shooting much in the first five minutes of the game. Arizona struck first on a goal by defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin. A fired up Max Pacioretty got Vegas right back in the game on a breakaway snap shot past Coyotes goaltender Adin Hill. Arizona took the lead again but Pacioretty scored his second of the 1st period for a 2-2 tie after 20 minutes of action.
Pacioretty continued to shine as he found Cody Eakin on a nice feed in front of Arizona’s net. Vegas took the early 2nd period lead 3-2.
The game continued to be the Max Pacioretty show, as he scooped a rebound and slipped it past Hill for a preseason hat trick. Vegas took a 4-2 lead after two periods.
The final period featured a beautiful backhand goal from veteran Reilly Smith. As he normally does, Smith created a turnover which he jumped on and scored on a breakaway. Brayden McNabb added an empty netter and the Golden Knights cruised to their first preseason win the 2019-2020 season 6-2. Veterans Pacioretty, Eakin, Smith and McNabb did all the scoring for VGK. Malcolm Subban stopped 26 saves for the win.
The Golden Knights get back on the ice Tuesday in Denver for their second preseason matchup. Game starts at 6. (Recap by Jason)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Arizona Coyotes preseason game at T-Mobile Arena.
- First NHL camp stories from Max Pacioretty, Reilly Smith, Jonathan Marchessault, and Malcolm Subban
- The difficulty for veterans playing with rookies in preseason games
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Max Pacioretty
** Nick Holden
* Dylan Coghlan
Now that is what we want to see from Cody Glass. Terrific job putting the puck down, sets up Coghlan and Pacioretty cleans it up for the hatty. Great stuff from both youngsters.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) September 15, 2019
Classic Subban. Nightmare early, then settles in and starts playing well. And we all know how good he'll be if this goes to shootout.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) September 15, 2019
Cathy McGowen
It’s only the 1st pre-game, so I expect even the vendors are off to a slow start. I’m so brain dead after 5 months without hockey, I forgot the 1/2 hour pre-game show! Guessing why there’s 5 more pre-games, 2 with the devils. Oops, I mean Sharks. It’ll get better, even through to the post-season❗☘