Golden Knights win wild game against Flyers

The Golden Knights will play plenty of home games in 2020. But there won’t be another like their first, a madcap, delirious 60-minute hockey spectacle witnessed by an announced crowd of 18,415 Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena.

The game started with six first-period goals, including one by a defenseman playing forward. It ended with the Knights frantically killing two penalties, the second of which gave the Philadelphia Flyers a brief 6-on-3 advantage with 1:29 to play.

Ultimately, the Knights’ penalty killers scratched, clawed and fought to preserve a 5-4 victory. It gave the Knights their third straight win and earned coach Gerard Gallant a spot in the NHL All-Star Game.

“It was a roller coaster,” left wing Max Pacioretty said. “It seemed like we faced pretty much every situation tonight, whether it was power play, penalty kill. Being up, being back on our heels. Overall, it’s a good team win. We relied upon everyone from the goalie to the killers to offensive guys to contribute tonight, and sometimes that makes winning feel extra special.”

The Knights and Flyers traded scoring chances in a wild first period that ended with Vegas ahead 4-2. Pacioretty scored twice, defenseman Shea Theodore got his sixth goal and defenseman Jon Merrill, playing at left wing, scored his first.

Merrill was moved to forward because left wing Jonathan Marchessault was scratched with a lower-body injury. Gallant said he didn’t want to play with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, so Merrill made the switch.

“There were a few times where I caught myself skating backward and kind of got out of position, but it was a huge win for our team and a lot of fun,” Merrill said. “We’re all hockey players, and when you’re out there having fun, your instincts kick in, and I think that’s what happened tonight.”

The teams traded second-period goals before the Flyers cut their deficit to 5-4 15 seconds into the third period. The Knights then handed the game to their penalty killers.

Right wing Reilly Smith was called for delay of game with 2:46 left. After goaltender Carter Hart was pulled to give the Flyers a 6-on-4 advantage, defenseman Deryk Engelland was called for cross-checking with 1:29 remaining.

The call led to a frantic final 89 seconds, as Knights penalty killers Brayden McNabb, Nick Holden and Mark Stone swatted pucks out of the defensive zone as fast as they could to preserve the lead.

The victory put the Knights in first place in the Pacific Division at the halfway mark of the season, meaning Gallant will coach the Pacific All-Stars for the second time in three years.

Here’s what else stood out from the win:

1. Pacioretty states case

Pacioretty justifiably could have been named an All-Star when rosters were released Monday. The 31-year-old is on pace for the best season of his career.

But the only Knights player named to the Pacific team was goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. Pacioretty was named one of eight “Last Men In” candidates who could be voted in.

He probably earned some votes Thursday. His two goals gave him a team-high 18. He also leads the team with 43 points after 44 games.

“I feel pretty happy with my play thus far this season,” Pacioretty said. “Whether I get in or not, it doesn’t change the fact that we have an entire half a season plus more to play some strong hockey.”

2. New-look fourth line shines

Merrill wasn’t the only new face on the Knights’ fourth line.

Rookie center Nicolas Roy played, as center Tomas Nosek missed the game because of the birth of his son, Patrik. Roy set up the Knights’ third goal when Merrill picked up the rebound from his wraparound shot and scored.

It was Roy’s fourth point (one goal, three assists) in eight games. He, Merrill and right wing Ryan Reaves looked more dangerous together than they had any right to be.

3. Flyers grounded

The Flyers won their previous two games at T-Mobile Arena by a combined score of 9-3. The Knights defeated them at home for the first time and split their season series after a 6-2 loss in Philadelphia on Oct. 21.

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Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.