The reviews are in for Ville Heinola's first Vegas Golden Knights game

Tuesday was a bizarre day for the Vegas Golden Knights. First, Carter Hart goes down and is seen limping out of City National Arena. Then, Adin Hill gets the start and actually wins the game for the Golden Knights. He stops 25 of 26 shots and even pulls off a bonkers save in the second period.

But that's not all. The Golden Knights actually got depth scoring from the most unlikely of places. Raphael Lavoie scored his first career NHL goal, which turned out to be the game-winning goal. Guess who assisted on that goal? None other than Ville Heinola, who joined the team for his first Golden Knights game.

It was a noteworthy game for the Finnish defenseman based on his background. He was a former first-round pick for the Winnipeg Jets who didn't pan out as the Jets had hoped. So what do they do? Well, they cut him loose and move on.

That's where McCrimmon came into play. He didn't mind adding more defensive depth because he understands the team gets hurt quite a bit. He needed someone who could move the puck and take control of the offensive front. Who else but Heinola to do the job?

Believe it or not, the reviews are in and they're positive. The defenseman impacted the game in a great light, leading the Golden Knights to a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. How did the Finnish defenseman do in his first foray with the Golden Knights?

How did Ville Heinola do in his first game as a Vegas Golden Knight?

Overall, it was a strong night for Heinola in his Golden Knights debut. The defenseman was all over the ice and never hesitated to make a play. It didn't matter if it was offensive plays or on defense. The former first-round pick was everywhere and his effort was reflected in the scoresheet.

Heinola got an assist on Raphael Lavoie's game-winning goal. He also contributed a shot on goal and two blocked shots, making him one of the most important defensemen on the night.

Granted, he didn't stand out as much as, say, Shea Theodore or Brayden McNabb. But Heinola was the ideal depth defenseman for Vegas when they needed it most. Losing Carter Hart will likely hurt the team for the long haul, especially if the defensive structure doesn't play up to par. That's why the Finnish defenseman stepping up matters for Vegas.

Now, you don't have to worry about losing your top goaltender as much if the play is consistent. When you have the former first-round pick gravitating towards the puck, magical things happen. That includes saving Adin Hill from an unusual goal being let in and helping out on the lower units.

Could Heinola stick around for the long haul? That remains to be seen. While Parker Wotherspoon is still out and would return to the lineup down the road, there's a compelling case that the Finnish defenseman would make for sticking around longer. Perhaps he can bolster his case with a stronger performance?

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