FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Ducks - Game 1

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Ducks – Game 1

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On the eve of the one-year anniversary of Coach Pete DeBoer’s arrival, the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 in the season opener on Thursday night.

The first period played out very sluggishly. That is to be expected considering there was no exhibition games.  Plus, the fact that the Ducks had not played an NHL game since early March of 2020. Johnathan Marchessault put VGK on the board just over one minute into the game on a nice snapshot set up by Alex Martinez and Shea Theodore. Tomas Nosek slammed one home just over a minute later that was set up beautifully by Ryan Reaves. Anaheim would score a pair of goals at 4.22 and 7.58 seconds of the period.  The teams seemed to settle down and no goals would be scored for the final 12 minutes of the period.

Quality chances were few and far between in the second period.  No goals scored in what was a boring period of hockey.

Mark Stone got VGK on the board early in the third period with assists going to Chandler Stephenson and Alex Pietrangelo. Max Pacioretty beat John Gibson five – hole off a play that Stone set up from the defensive zone. Alex Tuch got an empty netter with seconds remaining and the Golden Knights would win the opener 5-2.

Peitrangelo has a “shoot first” mentality and finds ways to get pucks to the net. He will add another level of scoring punch that we did not see from Nate Schmidt. The top six forwards of Marchessault, William Karlsson, Reilly Smith, Stone, Pacioretty, Stephenson, and Stone were on point.

VGK had the challenge of playing with five defensemen and 13 forwards. The defensemen held it together and the increased ice time did not lead to fatigue. Thirteen forwards did seem to impact the rhythm of the VGK forwards as Keegan Kolesar was rotated throughout the forward lines. Fortunate for Vegas, the forwards were able to find their groove in the third period.

The lack of energy was apparent. It appears that most of the same in-game entertainment is still there.  You can hear it during stoppages as well as the piped in crowd noise. The lower bowl has been outfitted with advertising along with yellow and red covers featuring VGK logos over the seats.  It looks nice but is also a constant reminder of current events.

It was fun tuning in to “Fortress and Home” prior to the game on YouTube. This is the next best thing to being at the game. I was able to watch warmups and all the pre-game activity that you do not get to see on television. It just took be back to a better time. Like all of you, I dearly miss taking my family to T-Mobile Arena and seeing all my friends. Shout out to all my friends in the cheap seats of section 217, I miss you guys!

STAT OF THE KNIGHT

Twelve different Golden Knights skaters recorded a point in Thursday’s win. Stone, Pacioretty, Tuch, Marchessault and Nosek each found the back of the net while Pietrangelo, Cody Glass, Nicolas Roy, Chandler Stephenson, Alec Martinez, Shea Theodore and Ryan Reaves posted an assist each.

VGK and Anaheim will close their two-game set Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena. The puck drop is set for 7 p.m. on AT&T SportsNet and FOX Sports Las Vegas 98.9/1340.

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-Chris Gawlik – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Chris on Twitter @TDChrisG

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