We are just a few weeks away from Training Camp which means that we are tantalisingly close to October and the return of Vegas Golden Knights hockey.
Although it won’t be long before the Vegas Golden Knights hit the ice again in order to prepare for 2019-20, we are still dealing with the lull of the offseason and the struggle for all of us is real.
But, fear not everyone because we are going to help pass the time by picking out the five Vegas Golden Knights home games to most look forward to in 2019-20. You are most welcome.
When putting this list together we took in to account a number of factors, including history between the two teams, what significance may ride on the game and particular storylines that scream out as being obvious right now.
Of course, every home game will be an exciting one in 2019-20 given that the Golden Knights are very much a Stanley Cup contender and this could be the year they write their name in the history books by becoming the fastest-ever expansion team to win a championship in major sports.
However, we’ve picked out five contests in particular for your reading pleasure so grab a cup of coffee (or beverage of your choice), sit back and enjoy!
Vs San Jose Sharks, Oct, 2
This is the most obvious inclusion on the list for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is the home opener and the first game of the 2019-20 NHL regular season for the Vegas Golden Knights and our excitement will be through the roof by that point.
The home opener is always a special occasion for hockey fans no matter your team, and it will go some way to satisfying those hockey cravings following a long old offseason. It will also be the first time that fans will get to see the class of 2019-20 strut their stuff and, given their previous exploits when it comes to pre-game entertainment, the Golden Knights are bound to put on a show prior to puck drop.
There will be a buzz swirling around T-Mobile Arena prior to the game and, although there are no notable new faces to get excited about, fans’ favorites in the ilk of Marc-Andre Fleury, William Karlsson, Shea Theodore, Jonathan Marchessault and Mark Stone will all be on display and this talented roster has a chance to set the tone from the very get-go.
And, let’s not forget, this game will also pack plenty of spice, plenty of punch and probably a whole lot of snarl. Why’s that? Do you even have to ask?
Unless you have been sleeping under a rock for months on end, then you will know that the Golden Knights had their 2018-19 season ended prematurely after losing to the San Jose Sharks in heartbreaking fashion in Game 7 of Round One.
The Knights were in control of that series and then in firm control of that contest having once held a 3-0 lead, but the game was turned on its head and the pendulum swing in favor of the Sharks after Cody Eakin was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for cross-checking Joe Pavelski.
The rest, of course, is history as they say and San Jose went on to score four power play goals in four crazy, frantic minutes before Barclay Goodrow made himself a Game 7 hero after netting the Overtime winner.
As a result, there is bound to be bad blood between the two teams in the wake of that bonkers playoff game and, to be perfectly honest, there was plenty of edge in previous meetings between the Knights and the Sharks. This is an early Pacific Division matchup so the two points on offer will carry added importance, so be sure to expect plenty of fireworks and bone-crushing hits on opening night.