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Vegas Golden Knights: Stephenson’s crazy day, other takeaways

By Andrew Steele-Davis

NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 03: Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson (20) scores during the second period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Vegas Golden Knights on December 3, 2019 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 03: Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson (20) scores during the second period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Vegas Golden Knights on December 3, 2019 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEWARK, NJ – DECEMBER 03: Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson (20) celebrates after he scores during the second period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Vegas Golden Knights on December 3, 2019 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ – DECEMBER 03: Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson (20) celebrates after he scores during the second period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Vegas Golden Knights on December 3, 2019 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Stephenson’s crazy 24 hours

Talk about a manic Tuesday (okay, wrong day but go with us here) for Chandler Stephenson.

After being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights by the Washington Capitals on Monday, the forward jumped on a plane and flew out to New Jersey to meet up with his new team.

He met his new teammates, got given his new number (No.20), got in a couple of naps and then prepared to do battle against the Devils.

And Stephenson was chucked in at the deep end too.

Slotting in as the fourth line center between Tomas Nosek and Ryan Reaves, Stephenson impressed straight away with his speed and his hustle in both zones.

His early effort was rewarded with a debut goal as he one-timed Alex Tuch‘s feed past Mackenzie Blackwood in the second period.

That was only the half of it, though. Because, with the Knights trying to protect a one-goal lead, Vegas Head Coach Gerard Gallant chucked Stephenson on the ice for a 6-on-5 for the final minute with the clear mission of preventing the Devils from tying the game and taking it to overtime.

Stephenson achieved that mission and he finished a crazy 24 hours with 11:43 minutes of ice time, a +1 rating and having made a hell of an impression on his new team.

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