The Vegas Golden Knights will take on the Colorado Avalanche on October 9, kicking off hockey season for Las Vegas. Fans will flock to T-Mobile Arena to see reigning Hart Memorial Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon go against Jack Eichel. If there was ever an exciting matchup for fans to watch, it would be between the last two Stanley Cup champions from the Western Conference featuring two premier players.
But it's also an exciting time for fans who care about more than the MacKinnon-Eichel matchup. It's about the cooler weather and enjoying hikes at Red Rock Canyon, where people aren't turning into fleshy puddles. It also means the holiday surge will arrive soon, with Halloween taking center stage. Time to indulge in all the turkey and sweets you can grab ahold of before your stomach bursts, eh?
Let's turn back to the season opener, though. How have the Golden Knights done in the first game of the season? What will past history tell us about their chances against the Avalanche on October 9? Fans are getting ahold of the preseason appetizers like it's the Reese's Pieces in the Trick-Or-Treat bag. However, the main course is coming soon and fans will want to save room.
The Vegas Golden Knights historically in the season opener (and how that bodes against the Colorado Avalanche)
Historically, the Vegas Golden Knights have done phenomenal in the season opener. They've only suffered one loss (2018-19) when the Philadelphia Flyers bested them, 5-2, on October 4, 2018. Wayne Simmonds, while he's not Nathan MacKinnon, was the difference-maker. He scored two goals, helping the Flyers jump to a 5-1 lead at the end of the second period. Jonathan Marchessault scored a first-period goal for the Golden Knights.
The biggest Vegas victory came on January 14, 2021, when they sped away from the Anaheim Ducks, 5-2. Despite two first-period goals from Max Comtois, Mark Stone scored a third-period goal within one minute, kicking off a three-goal barrage. Marchessault, Tomas Nosek, Max Pacioretty, and Alex Tuch also scored for the Golden Knights.
So what does that mean when Vegas squares off against the Colorado Avalanche on October 9? History is on the home team's side, with a 6-1 record to back them up and the Golden Knights winning their last five. One might say it consisted of easy wins against the Sharks, Ducks, and Kraken. However, starting at T-Mobile Arena with Jack Eichel is a good remedy whenever a Hart Trophy winner like MacKinnon is in town. That's always good news for the Golden Knights, especially when the fans have been starved for hockey for months.
Year | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
2017-18 | @Dallas Stars | W, 2-1 |
2018-19 | Philadelphia Flyers | L, 5-2 |
2019-20 | San Jose Sharks | W, 4-1 |
2020-21 | Anaheim Ducks | W, 5-2 |
2021-22 | Seattle Kraken | W, 4-3 |
2022-23 | @Los Angeles Kings | W, 4-3 |
2023-24 | Seattle Kraken | W, 4-1 |