Knights on Ice — Lots of Number Ones Last Night

Last night you had an abundance of the #1 all over T-Mobile:

Cody Glass, the 1^st draft pick in VGK franchise history when he was selected 6^th overall in the 2017 NHL draft, played his 1^st NHL game and scored his 1^st NHL goal on his 1^st shot ever taken in the NHL.

Fleury gave up only 1 goal in the 4-1 VGK victory.

The VGK won the 1^st game of the season in front of the largest attended home game at T-Mobile when 18,588 proved once again why they’re considered the most passionate loudest and most loyal fans in the NHL.

Cody Glass played with the other two 1^st round picks made by the VGK in the 2017 draft. Well, sort of. Here’s my explanation.

In the 2017 NHL draft, the VGK drafted Cody Glass 6^th overall, Nick Suzuki 13th and Erik Brannstrom 15^th, all in the first round. These were the kids of the future; within 2 to 4 years, they’d all be on the ice together. That was George McPhee’s plan in June 2017. But then, something really strange happened: the VGK’s improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final. That made GMGM change what he had planned for this team in the first few seasons.

The players he acquired during the expansion draft were the misfits shipped off for more draft picks and future prospects at the trading deadline or moved in the summer of 2018. But the likes of Karlsson, Marchessault, Smith, Neal, Perron, Haula, Fleury — you know them all — came together and set the hockey world on its head. GMGM’s well- thought-out plan blew up and he became a buyer at the deadline instead of a seller. His new course continued in the summer of 2018. He had a team that was ready to win then and they still are now.

So when Nick Suzuki was sent to Montreal in a package deal that brought Max Pacioretty to T-Mobile and Eric Branstrom was sent to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Mark Stone, the kid line became a reality, except the 2 kids playing on both sides of Cody Glass aren’t kids; they’re established NHL players with numbers that would make any of the other 30 GMs salivate to have them on their benches and in their locker rooms. Cody Glass is living the dream right now. He’s in a position that not many rookies have ever experienced. Having that talent on your left and right is a blessing few have experienced as a first-year player.

Last night the kid line scored 2 goals, one by Glass, the other a power-play goal by Stone, who also assisted on Cody’s goal. Pacioretty also had an assist; his cross-ice pass to Glass was tape to tape and the actual young kid of the kid line just had to extend his stick to beat Martin Jones. Tough luck for Jones, who actually looked good in net for a change against Vegas. He kept the game close and prevented the VGK from blowing the game wide open in the first period.

Other than the first 15 seconds of the game when Vegas iced the puck twice, they played a near perfect game both with and without the puck. Fleury might have had a case of the jitters early on when he mishandled a puck deep in his end that luckily didn’t end up behind him. Once he got past that, he was spot on, with great anticipation of the pending shots and in perfect position. The only legal goal they got by Fleury was a perfect shot from Marcus Sorenson, whose blistering shot beat Fleury from a spot on the ice that would have been covered by Nate Schmidt, if he hadn’t left the game about 3 minutes earlier after what appeared to be a knee-on-knee collision with Logan Couture.

The only other goal that got passed Fleury was waived off almost immediately by the on-ice officials, who ruled the puck was directed into the net with a stick that was above the crossbar. It was a close call and it was reviewed by Toronto, who confirmed the call on the ice. All goals are reviewed and with good cause: In last year playoffs, a few goals and calls had direct impact on the final results of games and a series, but that’s history and we move on. Or at least we say we have, but for those who still haven’t, last night’s 4-1 victory doesn’t completely take away the pain of how last season ended. That said, it sure feels good to beat the Sharks.

The Sharks were without Evander Kane, who received a 3-game suspension for his abuse of an official in Sunday’s preseason game. Also, the Sharks’ severely overrated and overpaid defenseman Erik Karlsson was also a late scratch for personal reasons. When SJ coach Peter Deboer was asked post game about Karlsson’s availability for their next game on Friday, which is also against Vegas, he said he had no information to offer.

All 4 lines of Vegas looked good in a truly complete team effort from all 19 skaters. Unfortunately, Nate Schmidt wasn’t around for all 60 minutes, but the line of Marchessault, Karlsson, and Smith looked good no matter what part of the ice they occupied. Reilly Smith may have scored 2 goals last night, including a shorthanded goal, but both of his goals were a direct result of some nifty passes from Karlsson, whose new contract is looking more and more of a steal.

My 3 Stars of the Game: 1) Cody Glass (how could I not give him one more #1 for the night?), 2) Reilly Smith (2 goals, one shorthanded), 3) William Karlsson (he never takes a shift off)

The only downer of this game and the start of this season is once again Vegas starting the season with key players injured. Last season, Vegas never had a full and healthy lineup for all 82 games and 7 playoff games, and once again, we’re back to where we were last year.

Cody Glass’ goal last night made him the youngest player to score for the VGK at 20 years and 184 days old, surpassing the previous youngest scorer for Vegas, Alex Tuch,  at 21 years and 158 days.

Vegas with last night’s win has a regular-season record of 6-1-2 vs. San Jose. 

With last night’s opening night win, Fleury tied both Curtis Joseph and Martin Brodeur with his 10th opening night win.

Next game is a rematch against the Sharks in the Shark Tank at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night.

Your comments and opinions are welcome here at Las Vegas Advisor or you can contact me directly at [email protected] or visit my Facebook page Vegas Hockey Guy.