GOLDEN KNIGHTS HONOR SHOOTING VICTIMS, FIRST RESPONDERS
Golden Knights players and staff were joined by first responders as they took the ice for the first time at T-Mobile Arena; members of the Coyotesalso stood in unity behind the Golden Knights for the duration of the pre-game ceremony. The pre-game ceremony included a 58-second moment of silence to honor the victims of last week’s tragedy and concluded with a speech from center ice by Golden Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland, a longtime Las Vegas resident who scored the second goal of the game. Click the image below to watch his speech.
[pb_vidembed title=”” caption=”” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMim4zWN0Bs” type=”yt” w=”480″ h=”385″]
NEAL CONTINUES TO SHINE AS GOLDEN KNIGHTS WIN HOME OPENER
The Golden Knights scored four goals in the first period, including two from James Neal, en route to winning the first NHL regular-season game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and becoming the first club in the 100-year history of the League to begin its inaugural season with three straight wins.
Neal has scored the game-winning goal in each of Vegas’ three contests. He is the second player from any NHL team in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to register the game-winning goal in each of his club’s first three games in any regular-season (also Brian Propp: 1982-83 w/ PHI). Neal (5-0—5) joined Chris Kontos (6-0—6 in 1992-93 w/ TBL) and Real Cloutier (5-0—5 in 1979-80 w/ QUE) as the only players in the expansion era to score five goals over his team’s first three games in their inaugural campaign. Additionally, Neal is the fourth player in that time frame to score in each of his team’s first three games in their inaugural season. Only nine players achieved the feat before 1967-68, including six in the League’s first season.
[pb_vidembed title=”” caption=”” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0pVknFNtl8″ type=”yt” w=”480″ h=”385″]
1. Golden Knights opt for #VegasStrong on boards over ads in home opener
2. Five things you need to know about Golden Knights first home goal-scorer
3. Hitchcock moves up all-time list with Stars’ win
4. Flyers’ rookie Nolan Patrick scored his first NHL goal
* Information provided via NHL Press Release
National Hockey League Press Release. Information provided from the NHL that describes various news releases that describe current events in the league.