Jack Eichel. Alex Pietrangelo. Mark Stone. Tomas "Fun must be always" Hertl. These names attract numerous hockey fans from within the Las Vegas community, bringing them to see their favorite hockey team. The Vegas Golden Knights have harbored a reputation for being the go-to destination for various superstars over the years and have grown attached to the passionate fanbase. How so?
Announced attendance here at T-Mobile Arena: 17,561 #VegasBorn
— Vince Sapienza (@VinceSapienza) September 28, 2024
All this for a preseason game. Against the Utah Hockey Club.
Don't get me wrong. There's nothing like a new hockey team in the NHL. The Golden Knights were in that position at one point, making the Stanley Cup Final in the first season. But it shows fans will turn up for a hockey game regardless of who's playing. All you need is a consistent winner. Las Vegas, hockey is back and it's time to be excited again.
That's especially true with the biggest names returning to the ice. Fans got to see Eichel perform incredible maneuvers, which even led to a goal. They also saw Alex Pietrangelo have a productive night, scoring a power play goal while adding an assist. Overall, it was a great night for Vegas's biggest celebrities as they lit the Las Vegas sky up with goals.
The star power resulted in a 5-2 win, where the Golden Knights pulled away from Utah in the third period. The overwhelming win should give fans hope for a strong season, where the franchise should fly under the radar. But there's more that fans should be excited for after beating the newest team.
Breaking down the Vegas Golden Knights's victory over the Utah Hockey Club
While the Vegas Golden Knights power play wasn't perfect on Friday, it showed promising signs of development. Alex Pietrangelo scored on a one-timer from the point in the second period, providing the equalizer for Vegas. Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson provided the assists for the man advantage goal, showcasing promise on the unit.
Historically, the Golden Knights have been bad on the power play. Like, 19.6% lifetime percentage bad. It's enough to make fans scream in agony, almost like they've had their toe eaten. However, Friday showed a different side of the unit, where they got more comfortable as the game progressed. Scoring a goal in three power play attempts is a promising side for things to come, especially for a unit looking for life.
Another thing to watch for is the battle of the Tanners. Tanner Pearson and Tanner Laczynski are battling for a roster spot, with the duo assisting on goals in the third period. Which Tanner will win the war? Stay tuned. While the power play looked nice, the penalty kill looked shaky to start. Michael Carcone jumped on the Golden Knights for the first goal, putting Vegas in an early hole. However, it took some time to gel together, similar to the power play.
Overall, this was a nice win for the Golden Knights in the preseason. The main attractions put on a show for the home crowd, dazzling with goals from numerous noteworthy names. If this is a sign of things to come, Vegas Golden Knights fans will sign up in droves for this episode. It might even lead to a surprisingly good ending for the hometown crowd.