In Las Vegas, the visiting Ottawa Senators acquitted themselves well, they still lost, but it took the Golden Knights a full game, extra time and the skills competition to get the win.
Jonathan Marchessault scored in the fifth round of the skills competition to give the Knights the win.
“We stayed with it,” Marchessault said. “I think we were the most dominating team out there, and we earned the right to get those two points.”
Reilly Smith and Nick Holden were the Vegas strikers in regulation.
“Our consistency has not been great at the beginning of the season here, and we have to find a way to be consistent night after night,” Marchessault said. “It’s a hard road trip ahead of us. We’re facing three really good teams, so obviously it’s good to get the confidence of a win here.”
Mark Stone skated in his first game versus Ottawa since the trade last season.
“I’m happy for it to be done with,” Stone said. “It’ll be normal now, just a normal game. I don’t know how everyone else takes it, but it is awkward a little bit, especially in a place where you enjoyed playing. A lot of close friends I’ll always be friends with. It was tough in that sense, but once the game gets going, it’s a hockey game. We’re hockey players and we just play a normal game.”
Marc-Andre Fleury made 37 saves
Thomas Chabot and Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for the Senators.
“That’s a really good team. They’re fast, they’re physical, and I really liked our guys’ effort,” Ottawa coach D.J. Smith said. “I thought we stood up to them. Our goalie was outstanding. But we had our chances as well, and their goalie was outstanding. It’s a tough building to get points in. We got one, we’d like two.”
[WATCH: All Senators vs. Golden Knights highlights]
Anders Nilsson made 52 saves (an NHL career high) in the loss.
“It felt kind of like an old playoff game,” Nilsson said. “Obviously we knew it was going to be a good atmosphere. Vegas has a good team and they came pretty hard at us, but I think we stood up pretty good and we were prepared for a battle.”
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