Preseason Game #7: San Jose at Vegas Golden Knights
The team at Adam S. Kutner & Associates was able to give away two tickets to Sunday night’s preseason home game. Continue reading for a full-game recap against the San Jose Sharks!
It was a star-studded event Sunday night at the T-Mobile Arena. In what was the official end of NHL preseason, both teams suited up their best players. Marc-Andre Fleury, Max Pacioretty, Evander Kane and Erik Karlsson skated in what was a season preview of the two best teams in the Pacific Division.
The game began slowly as both teams played a defensive first period. Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury kept it a scoreless game, even with a flurry of Sharks shots on net. With 1:16 left in the first period, Golden Knights defenseman Nick Holden put the puck top shelf for the 1-0 Vegas lead. It was Holden’s first goal, and Jonathon Marcheassault’s fourth assist of the preseason.
San Jose tied things up on a rebound scored by Erik Karlsson. Vegas’ Ryan Reaves got called for a strange throwing his stick penalty after his twig snapped in half on a shot on net. Four minutes later, Vegas looked to be in trouble again as Max Pacioretty went to the penalty box for slashing. Penalty killing forward Tomas Nosek picked up his teammate and scored a breakaway shorthanded goal. The Golden Knights broke the tie, taking the 2-1 lead. The second period scoring didn’t end there for the home team as Reilly Smith landed a power play goal in front of the San Jose net.
Overall, the game was won by the Golden Knights special teams. Pacioretty added a second shorthanded goal taking a 4-1 lead into the second intermission, and Nosek added his second and the team’s third score with a man-down. Vegas won in rare fashion, scoring four out of five goals on special teams.
This was the Golden Knights last exhibition game closing out the preseason with a (5-1) record. The regular season begins Thursday as the Golden Knights host the Philadelphia Flyers. This season couldn’t come fast enough for Golden Knights fans, especially after the one-year anniversary of the 1 October tragedy and the Golden Knights’ essential role in uniting the Las Vegas community last year. The city is ready to rally behind their team, this season and for many seasons to come.