Golden Knights’ 1st line flourishes in season-opening win over Avalanche 

End of game: Golden Knights’ 1st line flourishes in season-opening win over Avalanche 

Third period scoring summary 

3P 6:59 – COL Goal: Mikko Rantanen (3). Assists: Cale Makar (2),  Samuel Girard (2). 5-4 VGK 

3P 8:29 – VGK PP Goal: Mark Stone (2). Assists: Jack Eichel (4), Shea Theodore (3). 6-4 VGK. 

3P 13:54 – VGK Goal: Ivan Barbashev (2). Assist: Brayden McNabb (1). 7-4 VGK 

3P 19:24 – VGK EN Goal: Brett Howden (1). Assists: Tanner Pearson (1), Mark Stone (1). 8-4 VGK 

There was some doubt about how good the Golden Knights’ first line was going to be without Jonathan Marchessault. In Wednesday’s season opener against the Colorado Avalanche, Vegas’ first line erased any thoughts of uncertainty. 

Both Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev finished with four points in the Golden Knights’ romping season-opening victory over the Avalanche, 8-4. All of Eichel’s points came off of 4 assists. Barbashev had 2 goals and 2 assists. Fellow linemate Mark Stone also got in the action, recording 2 goals and an assist on the night. 

The offense didn’t start clicking for Vegas until halfway through the first period as it needed to adjust to Colorado’s fast paced offense. The Golden Knights’ fourth line brought a tone-setting aggressive factor the ice, which allowed the Golden Knights to open up their offense.

In his first game as a Golden Knight, Victor Olofsson had a big night, finding the back of the net twice while playing on Vegas’ third line with Nicolas Roy and Brendan Brisson. Brett Howden also scored an empty net goal to cap off the victory. 

Adin Hill picked up his first win of the season, allowing four goals on 31 shots and making 27 saves. Colorado goalie Alexandar Georgiev was pulled to start the third period, after allowing five goals on 16 shots and making 11 saves. Justus Annunen stepped in the third period, allowing two goals on five shots and making three saves. 

Golden Knights improve to 1-0-0 on the year and will host St. Louis on Friday. 

End of second period: Olofsson scores 2nd goal of night to maintain Golden Knights lead over Avalanche

Second period scoring summary

2P 4:15 – COL PP Goal: Mikko Rantanen (2). Assists: Cale Makar (1), Nathan MacKinnon (2). 3-2 VGK

2P 5:49 – VGK Goal: Zach Whitecloud (1). Assists: Ivan Barbashev (2), Jack Eichel (3). 4-2 VGK

2P 17:32 – COL Goal: Casey Mittelstadt (1). Assists: Samuel Girard (1), Josh Manson (1). 4-3 VGK.

2P 19:46 – VGK PP Goal: Victor Olofsson (2). Assists: Shea Theodore (2), Tomas Hertl (1) 5-3 VGK

The Golden Knights’ first line has found its rhythm as it has combined for three of their five goals on the night. In the second period, Eichel recorded his third assist on a score by Zach Whitecloud. In its first power play opportunity, Olofsson scored his second goal to maintain Vegas’ two-goal lead.

The Avalanche did notch one on the power play as well, off Rantanen’s second goal of the night. MacKinnon also recorded his second assist of the night. Casey Mittelstadt also found the back of the net. Colorado has only led once tonight but holds a 22-16 shot advantage going into the third period.

Colorado has also upped its aggressiveness, outhitting the Golden Knights 15-11. Hitting has been a category where Vegas usually dominates in most games, but with the Golden Knights finding an edge off of aggressive play, the Avalanche have had to match that intensity.

In the net, Adin Hill has made 19 saves on 22 shots faced. Alexandar Georgiev has made 11 saves on 16 shots for the Avalanche.

End of first period: Golden Knights score 3 unanswered goals for early lead over Avalanche

First period scoring summary

1P 10:48 – COL Goal: Mikko Rantanen (1). Assists: Nathan MacKinnon (1), Devon Toews (1). 1-0 COL

1P 11:15 – VGK Goal: Victor Olofsson (1). Assists: Alex Pietrangelo (1), Shea Theodore (1). 1-1

1P 18:32 – VGK Goal: Ivan Barbashev (1). Assists: Noah Hanifin (1), Jack Eichel (1). 2-1 VGK

1P 18:57 – VGK Goal: Mark Stone (1). Assists: Jack Eichel (2), Ivan Barbashev (1). 3-1 VGK

After going down to the Avalanche early, the Golden Knights rattled off three straight goals to open up a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period.

It’s been a game about quick responses as Victor Olofsson scored his first goal as a Golden Knight off a pass from Alex Pietrangelo just 27 seconds after the Avalanche found the back of the net. In the final two minutes of the period, Noah Hanifin found Ivan Barbashev wide open on the left side to give the Golden Knights their first lead of the night, 2-1.

Just 25 seconds later, Jack Eichel and Mark Stone went on a quick 2-on-2 rush into the Avalanche zone, with Stone burying a pass from Eichel to extend the lead to 3-1. Vegas surprisingly has the lead as it struggled to keep up with Colorado’s speed early on. At one point, it had out-shot Vegas, 6-1 and was preventing the Golden Knights from putting any sort of offense together.

However, it’s been the Golden Knights’ fourth line that’s disrupted the flow of the Avalanche’s offense, allowing Vegas to get its offense going and eventually find the back of the net.

Game 1: Golden Knights open season, hosting Avalanche in Vegas

The Golden Knights open their eighth season of hockey in a primetime spot hosting the Colorado Avalanche at 7 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena.

The teams have combined to win two of the last three Stanley Cups, although expectations are higher for Colorado. The Avalanche return most of their key contributors, including Hart Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon, and Vegas is rolling out a relatively new-looking lineup.

It will be interesting to see how the Vegas lines mesh together, and how the first line performs, after the club lost many in free agency, including Jonathan Marchessault, who left to Nashville.

Captain Mark Stone will skate on the first line with Jack Eichel, and either Victor Olofsson or Ivan Barbashev will play at the other wing position.

With William Karlsson out due to injury, Tomas Hertl will center the second line of Pavel Dorofeyev and Alexander Holtz. The line succeeded in the preseason as Dorofeyev scored a hat trick in the Golden Knights’ 6-5 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.

Colorado will be playing without a handful of key players, specifically its captain Gabriel Landeskog, who is out with a knee injury. Valeri Nichushkin, who tallied 34 points in 45 games last season, is also out, serving a suspension due to a failed drug test.

The Avalanche still packs a punch — despite a handful of injuries with MacKinnon, who tallied 140 points last season. Norris Trophy finalist defenseman Cale Makar leads the way.

Check back later for more coverage.

Players to watch

Stats from 2023-24

Golden Knights: Jack Eichel (center) – 63 GP, 31 G, 37 A, 68 PTS; Pavel Dorofeyev (forward) – 47 GP, 13 G, 11 A, 24 PTS; Mark Stone (forward) – 56 GP, 16 G, 37 A, 53 PTS.

Colorado: Nathan MacKinnon (center) – 82 GP, 51 G, 89 A, 140 PTS; Cale Makar (defense) – 77 GP, 21 G, 69 A, 90 PTS; Mikko Rantanen (forward) – 80 GP, 42 G, 62 A, 104 PTS.

Non-active players

Golden Knights: William Karlsson (undisclosed injury).

Colorado: Gabriel Landeskog (knee), Artturi Lehkonen (shoulder), Tucker Poolman (head), Valeri Nichushkin (suspension).

How to watch

TV: TNT, Channel 18 Cox Cable

Radio: 98.9 FM/1340 AM Fox Sports Las Vegas

Betting line

Golden Knights -102, Avalanche -108; over/under 6 (-122, +102)

Who is goal

Stats from 2023-24

Golden Knights: Adin Hill – 35 GP, 19-12-2, 2.71 GAA, .909 SV%,

Colorado: Alexandar Georgiev – 63 GP, 38-18-5, 3.02 GAA, .897 SV%