Recapping Golden Knights’ season opener against Seattle Kraken
Golden Knights vs. Kraken
At a glance
RJ’s three stars
3. Kraken center Jared McCann — Seattle’s first-line center scored the second goal in franchise history and was part of an effective trio up front with left wing Jaden Schwartz and right wing Jordan Eberle.
2. Knights right wing Mark Stone — The captain’s passing was in midseason form, as he picked up three assists on his team’s first, third and fourth goals. It was his sixth game with the Knights with at least three assists.
1. Knights left wing Max Pacioretty — The team’s leading goal scorer the last two seasons got off to a strong start by striking twice and picking up an assist. It was Pacioretty’s 15th game with at least two goals for the Knights.
Key play
Center Chandler Stephenson’s game-winning goal.
T-Mobile Arena was stunned when Seattle center Morgan Geekie roofed a shot past goaltender Robin Lehner from the right circle 7:58 into the third period. The Kraken had rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game 3-3.
The Knights’ first line wasted no time responding. Stone picked off a pass in the neutral zone and raced the other way. After executing a give-and-go with Pacioretty, he threw a pass from the right circle to the left for Stephenson, and it bounced off the center’s skate and in.
The goal stood after a video review to give the Knights the lead again. It also made the first line plus-3 at five-on-five.
Key stat
90-0-1 — The Knights’ record in their first four seasons when having a three-goal lead in the regular season, according to ESPN.
They went up 3-0 in the second period before the Kraken rallied to tie the score in the third. Stephenson’s goal helped the Knights improve to 91-0-1.
Knights’ next five
At Kings, 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Vs. Blues, 7 p.m. Oct. 20
Vs. Oilers, 7 p.m. Oct. 22
Vs. Islanders, 7 p.m. Oct. 24
At Colorado, 5 p.m. Oct. 26
Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.
