View from Outdoors at Lake Tahoe
LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – The NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe game one is in the books, after taking just over ten hours to complete. The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort for the first ever outdoor game on a golf course.
The Avalanche took an early lead, with only three minutes off the clock. Samuel Girard took a shot from inside the circle that went five-hole past Marc-Andre Fleury. Nathan MacKinnon earned an assist on the play.
Outdoors at Lake Tahoe ice repairs
As play continued the ice became softer and ultimately became a in places. Some players even had some difficulties just gliding to the bench across some of the softer areas. When the first period ended, off ice officials worked to repair the ice, but ultimately the decision was made by Gary Bettman to postpone the remaining two periods of the game until 9 p.m. in the evening.
The ice had been fully repaired when the players took to the ice again. The temperature was a cool 26 degrees Fahrenheit, but felt more like 16.
With 7:37 off the clock in the second period, a goal by the Knights, Alec Martinez beat Philipp Grubauer in the Ave’s net. Less than four minutes later, the Avalanche’s MacKinnon scored his second point on a beautiful shot from the opposite side that went to the outside post top-shelf to retake the lead.
In the third period, each team scored again. The first goal from Devon Toews, his fourth of the season, at 13:11. Less than 90 seconds later, Alex Tuch demonstrated his puck skills when he skated to the net, in traffic, held the puck on the stick, twisted around and wristed the puck into a small opening. The goal wouldn’t be enough to give the Knights what they needed. The Avalanche earned the two points, with a final score of 3-2.
Fans line the shoreline of Lake Tahoe to catch a glimpse of the game from boats and kayaks.
With COVID restrictions still in place, the game did not have any spectators, and was played along the beautiful Lakes edge, with snow covered mountains in the background.
To begin the festivities, following the national anthem, sung by South Lake Tahoe Native Aurora Gooch, there was a flyover by an HC-130J and two HH-60G helicopters flown by members of the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Combined Task Force (CTF) stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada.
There is a second game scheduled for Sunday, where the Boston Bruins take on the Philadelphia Flyers at 4:00 p.m. PT.
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