Ladies and gentlemen, the Vegas Golden Knights regular season is upon us. Finally, we can spend our evenings screaming at people to shoot the puck. We can also dread the coming month of January and everything smelly that comes with it. That includes New Year's booze and the eventual Golden Knights slump in the first month.
The first opponent? The Los Angeles Kings. They caused the Golden Knights all sorts of trouble, winning the season series, 3-1. They're known for having elite goaltending regardless of who's in net. It doesn't matter if it's Golden Knights legend, Jonathan Quick, or Darcy Kuemper.
Last season, the netminder came in and dominated the NHL landscape, posting a GAA of 2.02, a save percentage of .921, and five shutouts. It's part of why the Kings were a Stanley Cup playoff team last season, bringing a brick wall to Los Angeles.
So, what's in store for "Opening Knight" at T-Mobile Arena? Could we see the Golden Knights win another season opener, or will the Kings continue to be the proverbial pain in the arse? Praise be to the hockey gods because the 2025-26 NHL season is upon us, my friends.
Golden Knights-Kings preview: What fans must watch for
First, history favors the Golden Knights in season openers. They're 7-1 all-time in the first game of the season, including last season's 8-4 blowout against the Colorado Avalanche. One might think that Los Angeles will be troublesome because of their recent history against Vegas, harming the record.
However, the Kings faced the Avalanche in their season opener. It's likely that Los Angeles won't trot out many starters for the next game, especially on a back-to-back.
Also, this will be Anze Kopitar's last season in the NHL. The legendary Kings center spent 19 seasons in the league, scoring 440 goals and 838 assists during his career. He won two Stanley Cups, two Selke Trophies, three Lady Byng Trophies, and threw in a Mark Messier award (2021-22) for good measure.
Overall, you can say that's an accomplished career for Kopitar, who's been one of the most underrated centers in the NHL. Will Golden Knights fans get to see him one more time? More importantly, will he take over the game when he plays? Remember that Kopitar has 16 goals and 25 assists in 36 games against Vegas, making him an official pain in the arse.
What about the dynamic duo of Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner?
Finally, fans will see what the dynamic duo of Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner can do. The big offseason acquisition joins the superstar center on the Golden Knights' top line, catapulting them atop the NHL hierarchy. Now, people expect them to win the Stanley Cup in 2025-26. Heck, even ChatGPT is banking on a Golden Knights' Stanley Cup because of Marner Mania!
Let's enjoy some hockey at the Fortress on Wednesday. Let's grab some pictures and get some autographs from our favorite Golden Knights on the Gold Carpet. After that, it's time for some "Go Knights Go" action inside T-Mobile Arena at 7 PM PST, where Vegas hopes to vanquish those dreaded Kings. Praise be the hockey overlords because Golden Knights hockey is back, baby.
Not going to T-Mobile Arena? Catch the game on TNT at 7 PM PST! You can catch the boys try to get off to a fast start with a win.