Vegas Golden Knights: Martinez has a night to remember

It was a night that went so well that not even Hollywood could have written a better script for how Alec Martinez‘s debut with the Vegas Golden Knights unfolded.

Traded from the LA Kings to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday for two second-round draft picks, Martinez was thrown straight into the fire against the surging Tampa Bay Lightning at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday.

With all the narrative surrounding the trade based around Martinez’s regression this year, the stage was set for the veteran to prove a few people wrong.

And, boy, did Martinez do that and more.

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Because, in a game where the Golden Knights pulled a statement win out of the bag by bringing the Lightning’s 11-game win streak to a shuddering halt, Martinez played a starring role.

Used to coming up clutch in big moments having scored the goal that clinched the Stanley Cup for the LA Kings in 2014, Martinez delivered on a much smaller scale on Thursday night.

With Tampa Bay seemingly set to take a one-goal lead into the second period, Martinez jumped up into the play and was in the right place at the right time to one-time a rebound past Andrei Vasilevskiy to make it a tied game.

Then, if that wasn’t enough, Martinez provided the secondary assist on Mark Stone‘s goal, the tally that made it a one-goal game in Vegas’ favor heading into the third period.

It was a hell of a first impression by Martinez who impressed in every facet of the game for the Golden Knights.

The veteran finished his debut with a plus/minus rating of +3 to go along with one hit and four blocked shots in 20:10 minutes of total ice time.

He led all Golden Knights skaters in even-strength ice time with 16:55, and Martinez showed why he is considered a very good puck-mover.

After being the victim of being stuck on a bad Kings team, where his play clearly regressed, Martinez would no doubt have relished the opportunity to come to a contender.

He is a clear upgrade for this Golden Knights team and, while he may not contribute a multi-point game on a nightly basis, Martinez’s ability to block shots, move the puck and help the transition game will prove invaluable down the stretch and in the postseason.

This was the best possible way to introduce yourself to a new set of fans and Alec Martinez will be hoping to build on his dream debut in order to add another Stanley Cup to his resume.