In Las Vegas, the old expansion Golden Knights seemed to have set the game to cruise control on Tuesday night. 
The Seattle Kraken made a game of the match after falling behind, but Vegas had one more roll in the third for a 4-3 win.
Robin Lehner made 28 save to get the win.
Vegas took a 3-0 lead over the Kraken when Max Pacioretty scored his second of the game, early in the middle frame.
Seattle responded with two goals in a span of 72 seconds to get within one goal heading to the third period.
“I thought our top two lines were exceptional, and we needed them to be,” Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer said. “We were essentially shorthanded tonight with the lineup we dressed … we had to really lean on the big guys.”
Ryan Donato (first goal in Kraken history) and Jared McCann scored in the second period to give life to Seattle.
“We just came together,” Donato said. “We obviously hadn’t been in that situation before, but we’ve all played on different teams and been in that situation on other teams. We knew as soon as we got one, the others would come.”
Pacioretty and Jonathan Marchessault scored in the opening period for the 2-0 lead.
“Things didn’t end well for us last year in the playoffs,” Vegas’ Mark Stone said. “We did a little bit of soul searching this summer and we wanted to be ready for opening day of camp, opening day of the season. It’s about being consistent for 82 games.”
Morgan Geekie tied the game, 3-3, for Seattle with 7:58 gone in the third period.
“It’s a spectacular city and they put on quite a show,” Geekie said. “It was more exciting than anything, and to be a part of the new franchise is something special to be a part of.”
Vegas replied 35 seconds later with a goal from Chandler Stephenson to retake the lead.
The goal was reviewed for kicking the puck into the net, but was upheld.
“I know what I saw and believed,” Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol said. “I thought it was a kicking motion. There’s a gray area on those calls.”
Philipp Grubauer made 26 saves in the loss.
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