Birthday thoughts about... my first Vegas Golden Knights game

The date is April 18, 2022. The Vegas Golden Knights are playing the New Jersey Devils, hoping to hold onto what little hopes they had for the Stanley Cup playoffs. I'd never been to a Golden Knights game at T-Mobile Arena, so I figured I'd go and check out the experience for myself. Originally, I had bought two tickets, one for me and one for my date.

Perhaps she didn't want to see a rebuilding Devils team take on a playoff contender. Sure, they look good from a hockey perspective, with young stars like Luke Hughes and Nico Hischier. But seeing a non-playoff team must've been bad for her mental health, so she stepped away. Ironically, the Devils made the playoffs the next season, proving they're better than people think.

Still, I had one ticket left and needed someone to join me. Luckily, I had a good friend pick up the ticket to embark on my quest to T-Mobile Arena. He'd never been to a Golden Knights game before and was simply happy to go to a game. It didn't matter if it was in front of the glass or the nosebleeds. He was adamant about going to a hockey game.

Our journey to T-Mobile Arena for the Vegas Golden Knights vs. New Jersey Devils

Our journey started at a microbrewery with the Hu playing in the background. It felt like something out of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, only we went beyond "Flavor Town." We were drinking beers and snacking on buffalo chicken sandwiches. It was fun talking about our NFL teams and how fun baseball was as a sport.

Then, we headed to T-Mobile Arena to watch the hometown Vegas Golden Knights take on the New Jersey Devils. We parked close to the arena and walked inside. The arena was awe-inspiring, looking sleek and modern for an NHL arena. The funny thing was the stadium was adorned with various medieval paraphernalia, playing off the Golden Knights theme well. But there were some Devils in town, hoping to spoil the fun.

Our seats were in the nosebleeds, but we didn't care. The experience was all that mattered, from the pre-game festivities to Lee Orchard battling against an evil opponent. What mattered was the atmosphere, as we were dancing, celebrating the Golden Knights doing well, and booing the Devils doing something good.

We left after the second period because we had to get up early for work. However, our time was so awesome that I was throwing up on the toilet the next day. The hangover I had from the night combined with spicy buffalo sauce left me vomiting and leaving for home early. Still, it's an experience I would do all over again, especially if the Golden Knights win. Here's to many more games (and victories) by the hometown team this upcoming season!