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Vegas Golden Knights: Main takeaways from win over LA Kings

By Andrew Steele-Davis

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings races for the puck against William Carrier #28 and Tomas Nosek #92 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of the game at STAPLES Center on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings races for the puck against William Carrier #28 and Tomas Nosek #92 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of the game at STAPLES Center on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 13: Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings races for the puck against William Carrier #28 and Tomas Nosek #92 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of the game at STAPLES Center on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 13: Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings races for the puck against William Carrier #28 and Tomas Nosek #92 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of the game at STAPLES Center on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images) /

It was a winning weekend for the Vegas Golden Knights who clinched two wins in a divisional back-to-back double-header after beating the LA Kings 5-2 on Sunday night.

Following their 6-2 success over the Calgary Flames on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, the Vegas Golden Knights hit the road last night and spoiled the Kings’ chances of completing their own double-header sweep this weekend.

It was a fast start from the Knights who struck first at 5:42 in the first period as Reilly Smith converted his fourth goal of the year, before Max Pacioretty scored on the power play mere minutes later.

Austin Wagner got LA on the board soon after but Vegas’ power play exploded in the second period with Paul Stastny grabbing two goals on the man advantage.

Dustin Brown gave the Kings a slither of hope early in the third period but Mark Stone took the wind out of the sails of the home crowd seconds later after completing the scoring for Vegas, who improved to 4-2-0 on the year.

The Vegas Golden Knights were dominant from the first drop of the puck and they played an aggressive style of hockey which got the job done.

Here were our three takeaways from the win over the LA Kings…

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 13: Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his first-period goal with the bench during the game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 13: Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his first-period goal with the bench during the game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images) /

1. Quick Start Pays Dividends

LA are a gritty hockey team who were on a high after beating the Nashville Predators 7-4 on home ice on Saturday night, a team that should be considered a Stanley Cup contender given the firepower they have at their disposal.

However, the Golden Knights did what they had to do to suck the energy out of the home crowd early and gain the mental edge, which was important given that both teams had played the night before.

Reilly Smith registered his fourth goal of the year from a William Karlsson feed at 5:42 in the first period, and that seemed to give the rest of the Golden Knights a real jolt of energy.

And it paid off as Vegas added to their lead at 6:59 with Max Pacioretty roofing a shot over Jonathan Quick on the power play.

Two quick body blows left the Kings dragging themselves off the canvas and, although Austin Wagner would get LA on the board in the first period, the damage was done and the Knights never took their foot off the gas following their quick start.

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