Expansion Golden Knights give Las Vegas a reason to cheer
Preds score twice late to edge Flyers
LAS VEGAS — Hockey fans arrived on the Las Vegas Strip in the crisp desert afternoon, gathering in jovial groups outside the rink. Many wore the striking, multicolored jerseys of the Vegas Golden Knights, the NHL expansion team playing its historic first regular-season home game Tuesday night.
The fans remained jovial during the game, too, which was won by Vegas 5-2.
Less than a mile south on the Strip is the massacre site where 58 people were killed and hundreds were injured just nine days earlier. Another short walk down the road, dozens of crosses and heartbreaking memorials sit in the median near the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign.
Nobody’s mind was entirely on hockey during what should have been a celebratory night and a milestone for Las Vegas, which finally has its first franchise in the major North American pro sports.
Instead, the Golden Knights and the NHL kept the tragedy in the forefront while attempting to provide their own modicum of momentary relief to a healing city.
“I wasn’t going to miss it,” said Joan Simmons, a Las Vegas native wearing a Golden Knights T-shirt. “I think we all need hockey right now.”
The home opener against the Arizona Coyotes originally was planned as a glamorous, Vegasstyle debut featuring a light show and a pregame extravaganza packed with visual marvels building on the team’s medieval nickname. After the shooting, the team modified its plans and dedicated a quieter evening to the victims, the first responders and the survivors.
After a stirring pregame video with stark images of Las Vegas and its heroes, the Golden Knights took the ice for pregame introductions, each accompanied by a member of the medical and law enforcement communities. The Coyotes lined up behind the Golden Knights while the sold-out arena roared.
And then the arena illuminated the victims’ names on the ice in gold while counting 58 seconds of painful silence.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the game “shows what a major league professional sports team can mean to a community in terms of bringing people together, uniting them, helping them heal from a tragedy and demonstrating the power of distraction when everybody comes together.”
When the puck finally dropped, the Knights provided
the best distraction of all by playing spectacular hockey.
Vegas scored four goals in the first 10:42, setting off delirious standing ovations, en route to the rout.
PREDATORS 6, FLYERS 5: In Nashville, Tenn., Filip Forsberg scored his second goal with 35.6 seconds left as Nashville rallied by scoring twice in the final 1:17 to beat Philadelphia.
The Predators appeared ready to blow a 3-0 lead on the night they raised their Western Conference championship banner after the Flyers scored five straight goals. BLUES 3, RANGERS 1: In New York, Carter Hutton made 16 of his 32 saves in the third period to help St. Louis remain unbeaten with a win over New York.
Carl Gunnarsson and Brayden Schenn scored in the first. BLUE JACKETS 2, HURRICANES 1 (OT): In Raleigh, N.C., Sonny Milano scored two goals, including the game-winner on a breakaway with 22 seconds left in overtime, to give Columbus a victory over Carolina.
Milano scored midway through the third period before Jeff Skinner tied it late in regulation with Carolina’s net empty. BLACKHAWKS 3, CANADIENS 1: In Montreal, Alex DeBrincat scored to help Chicago spoil Montreal’s home opener. STARS 4, RED WINGS 2: In Dallas, John Klingberg and Tyler Seguin scored in the first period as Dallas beat Detroit. SENATORS 3, CANUCKS 2 (SO): In Vancouver, British Columbia, Mark Stone of Ottawa scored in the fifth round of a shootout to beat Vancouver.