The Vegas Golden Knights wrapped up their preseason schedule on Friday night, and it is evident that several areas still demand refinement.
Pavol Regenda tallied four assists, while Ethan Cardwell registered a hat trick and an additional helper as the San Jose Sharks defeated the Golden Knights 4–1 at T-Mobile Arena.
For Vegas, Alexander Holtz provided the team’s lone tally, while Adin Hill turned aside 16 shots between the pipes.
WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS AND THE SHARKS
Ethan Cardwell lit the lamp less than two minutes into the game to give San Jose an early edge. Late in the second period, Egor Afanasyev doubled the lead on the power play, sending the Sharks into the final frame with a 2–0 advantage.
Vegas responded just 23 seconds later with its lone goal of the night, but that would be all the Golden Knights could generate offensively. Cardwell sealed the outcome with an empty-net tally, securing a 4–1 victory for San Jose.
Where Vegas Needs To Improve
The power play was looking pretty rough tonight for the Golden Knights. Despite going on four power plays, Vegas was unable to break through with the man advantage. This is something that will undoubtedly have to be addressed in practice. Vegas finished the preseason 3-4, but on the bright side, they did secure a victory over the Colorado Avalanche when both squads had a majority of their starters.
Looking Ahead
Fans are invited to join the Golden Knights for Fan Fest, presented by Raising Cane’s, on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Lawn at Downtown Summerlin. Vegas will open the 2025–26 campaign on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings at 7 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena. Opening Knight festivities will take place beforehand on Toshiba Plaza, setting the stage for the season debut.
The game will be broadcast nationally on TNT and HBO Max, with radio coverage available on FOX Sports Las Vegas 98.9/1340 and Deportes Vegas 1460. Tickets for all Golden Knights home games are available now.
The Golden Knights now turn their focus to the regular season, which begins Wednesday. Puck drop for Opening Night against the Los Angeles Kings is slated for 7 p.m.