The Vegas Golden Knights demolished the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, 6-1. It was behind Zach Aston-Reese's two goals and Tanner Laczynski and Brendan Brisson having a goal and assist each that helped the Golden Knights rout the Avalanche in Denver. Yes, it was a simple preseason game. However, Vegas showed its mettle and proved it can win away from T-Mobile Arena.
Speaking of which, the Las Vegas arena will be a crucial stadium for the Golden Knights this season. It doesn't matter if they're facing Colorado on October 9 or the Edmonton Oilers on December 3. Vegas's home will be a bastion for the team's success should they compete for another Stanley Cup in 2024-25.
Overall, Vegas has a lifetime home record of 170-80-20. That amounts to a winning percentage of .630, which showcases the advantage the team has had in Las Vegas. What's more, nobody thought it would be possible. The oncoming invasion of other team's fans in Sin City would've put the Golden Knights at a disadvantage. Yet, here we are.
How important will that advantage be for Vegas in the upcoming season? How will their home arena play against teams like the Avalanche, Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks? Fans better bring their rally towels and outdoor voices to T-Mobile Arena, specifically on October 9. The home team could use any advantage they can get.
The history behind the Vegas Golden Knights home opener at T-Mobile Arena
Numerous parallels lie between the Vegas Golden Knights's season-opening games and home openers. For one, they've played in all but two of their season openers at T-Mobile Arena, winning both road contests (a 2-1 win in 2017-18 against the Dallas Stars and a 4-3 victory in 2022-23 against the Los Angeles Kings). There's also the five-game winning streak that coincides with the team's success, where they've gotten off on the right foot.
Thus, it shouldn't surprise anyone that the team's done well to start the season. The Golden Knights have gotten off to a hot start in the past two years. Before winning the Stanley Cup in 2022-23, they went 13-2. While they were on the road for much of that stretch, they went 5-1 in the first six home games. A year later, Vegas started 11-0-1 with a home record of 7-0-1 in their first eight games.
Even in 2017-18, they started 8-1, playing seven straight home games. They went 6-1 and defeated teams like the Colorado Avalanche in that span. Vegas has gotten off to fast starts during these seasons because of the team's success at T-Mobile Arena, where they've gotten a home-crowd boost. If you want perspective on how helpful it's been, check out the Golden Knights in their first seven home openers.
Year | Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
2017-18 (October 17, 2017) | Arizona Coyotes | Won, 5-2 |
2018-19 (October 4, 2018) | Philadelphia Flyers | Lost, 5-2 |
2019-20 (October 2, 2019) | San Jose Sharks | Won, 4-1 |
2020-21 (January 14, 2021) | Anaheim Ducks | Won, 5-2 |
2021-22 (October 12, 2021) | Seattle Kraken | Won, 4-3 |
2022-23 (October 13, 2022) | Chicago Blackhawks | Won, 1-0 |
2023-24 (October 10, 2023) | Seattle Kraken | Won, 4-1 |
It gets the team on the right foot, helping them go on a lengthy winning stretch. It also builds up points when times are lean. That way, the Golden Knights aren't on the outside looking in. That'll help if the Pacific Division becomes even better this season, with October 9 coming quickly. And people say hockey doesn't work in the desert.