The Vegas Golden Knights lose a closer game to the Colorado Avalanche

Revenge is a dish best served cold, especially on ice. The Vegas Golden Knights learned that on Thursday as Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche exacted their revenge, 3-1. The reigning Hart Memorial Trophy winner set up Jonathan Drouin for a nice first-period goal, setting the tone early for the Avalanche. After that, Colorado had it easy as Sam Malinski added a second-period goal while Logan O'Connor chipped in an empty-netter.

As for the Golden Knights, the lone goal came from Jack Eichel in the second period. The offense fired 22 shots on goal, which didn't add much bite to Vegas. Aside from Eichel and Stone, not many Vegas stars stood out, leaving the team hanging on the offensive end. That's especially true in the first period, where they lagged behind Colorado. It's a concerning trend that could affect how they start the season, giving fans reason to panic.

While the team was lacking in the goal-scoring department, there were some bright spots for the team in the tune-up game. It should inspire hope for fans in the upcoming regular season, specifically in a few areas. Even one player impressed skeptics tonight (hello, right here!), giving fans a better outlook at one position. Who stood out for Vegas as the preseason winds down? Who's ready to make a name for themselves come October 9, when these two teams meet for two points in the same venue?

The power play continues to look good for the Vegas Golden Knights, led by Jack Eichel

While Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche got the last laugh in their preseason rematch, the power play for the Vegas Golden Knights continues to impress. Jack Eichel notched a man-advantage goal, putting Vegas within one. The superstar center showed he's the key piece for the Golden Knights heading into 2024-25, where he'll run the special teams unit.

They scored on 33% of their power play opportunities, adding another good night filled with scoring opportunities for the home team. If Vegas can build off the preseason success, they'll discover something they haven't had since the franchise's inception. They'll finally become lethal on the man advantage, potentially turning them into a Stanley Cup contender again.

Ilya Samsonov was also a bright spot for the Golden Knights, stopping 24 of 26 shots (.923 save percentage). He handled the first period onslaught well against the Avalanche, carrying a slow offensive group and keeping Vegas down by only a goal. If the Golden Knights can overcome their slow starts by October 9, they'll be a complete team that can play 60 full minutes of hockey.

It was expected that MacKinnon and the Avalanche would come back with a counter-punch of their own on Thursday. Vegas embarrassed them in Tuesday's preseason matchup with their AHL squad, which made the loss at T-Mobile Arena understandable. Yes, it's only preseason and the points don't matter. However, it could carry over to October 9 when the two teams face off again.