Experiencing my first win at a Vegas Golden Knights game
You always remember your first. That's what it was like watching the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Anaheim Ducks live on Sunday.
Fun fact: Entering Sunday's game against the Anaheim Ducks, the Vegas Golden Knights were 0-3 every time I attended a game. My first game came on April 18, 2022, when the Golden Knights faced the New Jersey Devils, long before Tomas Hertl and Ivan Barbashev were on the team. Would the banged-up squad defeat the rebuilding Devils? Nope. 3-2, Devils.
The next Golden Knights game was on December 27, 2022. It was a road game in... Los Angeles. I watched Vegas get doubled up in the land of narcissistic celebrities, 4-2. But hey! They got a power play goal from Michael Amadio. Maybe the third time's the charm on February 12, 2024, against the Minnesota Wild? Surely, that's the one, right?
Arnold, take it away.
The Wild would pull away in the third period and win, 5-3. Just when I thought a Golden Knights win would soothe the soul after a devastating Super Bowl loss, it didn't happen. Three straight games where Vegas lost while I was in attendance. I needed to find a game where I would see the fabled flamingos fly after a hard-earned victory.
Could it be October 13 against the Ducks? Maybe a pair of games on October 25 and 26 against the Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks? Whatever the case, I needed a game against an "easy" opponent to break the curse. Otherwise, it would've been a case of an unfathomable losing streak. Can't have the torches and pitchforks coming at the ol' doorstep, ya know?
How I wound up on going to see the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights
Picking a Vegas Golden Knights game is never an easy task. You must balance your work schedule, when your favorite NFL team plays, what chores need to be done, and other affairs before deciding. Plus, you don't want to watch Vegas lose. That wouldn't be cool.
Therefore, it was time to look at the ol' schedule and see some available dates. After watching the Golden Knights lose to the Devils, Kings, and Wild (along with an additional Henderson Silver Knights loss to the Ontario Reign in February 2022), I stumbled upon October 13. That's when the home team was playing the Anaheim Ducks.
No work or obligations? Perfect. I'll take the assignment. I started off the day by heading to New York New York for a dining experience at Nine Fine Irishmen. It was, as the name would have it, an Irish pub where numerous other Golden Knights fans gathered. In the background was the waning minutes of a dominating Detroit Lions victory over the Dallas Cowboys. In its place was a soon-to-be dominating victory by the Los Angeles Dodgers over the New York Mets.
Here, I ordered a "hot chicken" sandwich, which had lettuce, spicy mayo, and a scrumptious white cheese (I believe it was provolone) topped over crispy chicken. It was good, but filling, so I sat back and enjoyed the dining experience. The waitress was extremely accommodating, checking in regularly and even giving me extra water. 10/10, would definitely recommend.
Watching the game itself
There's nothing like heading to T-Mobile Arena to watch the Vegas Golden Knights play hockey. You're heading to a modern arena with a sleek design and the latest additives, making it a bona fide experience. It's a testament to Bill Foley's commitment to growing the game of hockey in Nevada.
That includes a privately funded arena where fans from all backgrounds can enjoy an NHL game. That consisted of Pittsburgh Steelers fans on Sunday, who were prowling the Las Vegas Strip and heading to T-Mobile Arena. They were the second-most represented fanbase at the game (aside from the home team, the Golden Knights), blowing the Anaheim Ducks fanbase out of the water.
Still, the game itself was tense. The first period saw Brett Howden pounce on an open opportunity in front of the net to start the scoring. This was followed up by a Troy Terry breakaway goal where Ilya Samsonov had no chance. The Ducks would generate more offensive pressure, capitalizing on Vegas's miscues.
The score would remain tied (it almost wasn't because of an Alexander Holtz "high-stick" on an apparent power play goal) in the second period. The air was tense and people were on the edge of their seats. Would I witness the Golden Knights lose again? Or would a bigger name like Ivan Barbashev step up and save the day for everyone in T-Mobile Arena?
"Not so fast," said Tomas Hertl
The third period brought about some different fortunes. Oddly enough, it happened on the power play, where the hired specialist, Tomas Hertl, scored his first goal five minutes into the third. Mark Stone found the former Sharks star cutting up front and passed for the easy goal. The place erupted as the Vegas Golden Knights were one step closer to 3-0-0.
Fun must be always— Tomas Hertl cashes in for his first of the season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nLkhkGsvPn
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 14, 2024
Then, Pavel Dorofeyev followed suit and scored his first goal as well, thanks to Keegan Kolesar's excellent forechecking. This put the game out of reach, pushing the Golden Knights closer to victory. Finally, I would witness the fabled flamingos litter T-Mobile Arena's ice. Life couldn't have been better than this, knowing I wasn't the cursed fan all along.
Going to a Golden Knights game is fun, whether it's the pregame festivities or Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev connecting for more magic. However, they're even better when the home team wins. Everyone goes home in a better mood, where life's stressful perils are cast aside. As the saying goes, "You always remember your first."
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