Golden Knights run away from Kings in first game back from COVID-19 layoff

If the Golden Knights play like they did Friday every time they're off for 10 days, they're going to petition the league for longer breaks.

Max Pacioretty, William Karlsson and Nicolas Hague each recorded three points as the Golden Knights beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-2 at T-Mobile Arena. It was their first game since Jan. 26 after three games were postponed due to COVID-19.

The fun started just 50 seconds into the game when Hague ripped it over the shoulder of goalie Jonathan Quick. Mark Stone soon followed, as did Jonathan Marchessault, and Vegas led 3-0 just past the midpoint of the first period.

The second period saw Karlsson record his goal, and Cody Glass netted one on the power-play. Glass' was his second of the season, and also his second on the power play.

Karlsson and Hague each had a goal and two assists, and Pacioretty had three assists.

The Kings finally got on the board at the 7:46 mark of the third period on a back-hander from Austin Wagner. It ended Marc-Andre Fleury's shutout streak at 119:59, one second short of two full games. Dustin Brown added another for Los Angeles with 6:27 left in the game.

Vegas led in shots on goal 37-29.

The Golden Knights return at noon Sunday for another game with the Kings.

Golden Knights pull away from Kings in 2nd period

Just because the period changed from the first to second meant that the Golden Knights were done scoring.

Vegas added two more in the second period to extend the lead over the Los Angeles Kings to 5-0 after two periods at T-Mobile Arena on Friday.

William Karlsson recorded points on the first two goals of the period, scoring the first. Nicolas Hague started the breakout, finding Jonathan Marchessault in the neutral zone and feeding Karlsson, who walked in and whipped it into the net.

The Golden Knights also didn't take long to score on their first power-play of the game. It was a simple enough play, with Karlsson's shot going in low off the pad, but when you have an extra man on the ice sometimes that's all you need. Cody Glass was there on the rebound, punching it home for his second of the season 15 seconds into the power play.

Pacioretty recorded the secondary assist on Glass' goal, giving him three points on the night, joining Karlsson and Hague with a trio of points.

The Golden Knights even had another goal called off the board in a sign of how much they were scoring, seemingly at will. Mark Stone put it into a wide-open net on the power play, but Glass interfered with the goalie and the play was called back.

Vegas led in shots on goal after two periods 25-22.

Golden Knights start fast, lead Kings after 1

The Golden Knights don't look like a team that hasn't played in 10 days.

Vegas came out hot against the Los Angeles Kings on Friday, scoring a minute into the first period and twice more before intermission to take a 3-0 lead at T-Mobile Arena.

It took the Golden Knights one shot and 50 seconds to get on the scoreboard. Max Pacioretty's pass to Mark Stone deflected off Stone's stick, but right to a waiting Nicolas Hague, who sniped it over Jonathan Quick's shoulder for his first of the season and second of his career.

It was the quickest the Golden Knights have scored since Pete DeBoer took over as coach, but they were nowhere near done.

Stone already had an assist, and decided to add a goal too, collecting a puck at the doorstep and depositing it into the net for his 12th point of the season. Pacioretty and Shea Theodore assisted.

Next up was Jonathan Marchessault, who cashed in after a nice drive to the net by his linemate. William Karlsson charged to the goal and couldn't beat Quick five-hole. Marchessault was there when the puck fluttered to the crease, and he whacked it home for a 3-0 Vegas lead 10:40 into the game.

Despite the lead in goals, the Golden knights trailed in shots on goal in the period 11-9.

Pete DeBoer back, Alex Pietrangelo out for Golden Knights vs. Kings

Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer started his daily media availability today with a joke.

"Ten days in quarantine with my wife; that'll test any marriage," he said with a laugh.

It's no surprise he's in a joking mood. He's been away from the team since Jan. 26, the result of the league's COVID-19 protocols forcing him into isolation. He was back on the ice for morning skate today and will be back behind the bench at 7 p.m. for today's duel with the Las Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena. It is the Golden Knights' first game in 10 days, and the team will go with a roster that looks quite different.

"You get an appreciation for the ability to show up here every day and work with this group and what we do for a living when you basically can't do it for 10 days," DeBoer said. "I tried to use the time the best I could, but it's nice to be back."

DeBoer has not been with the team since the morning of their last game, the day a member of the coaching staff tested positive for the virus and put the whole staff in quarantine. The Golden Knights missed about a week as a team, and when they returned to practice Wednesday, only assistant Steve Spott was present among the usual group.

Assistant Ryan Craig returned for practice on Thursday, followed by DeBoer this morning. Assistant Ryan McGill is the only coach still out and is presumed to be in the league virus protocol.

DeBoer's team, in particular the blue line, is different than when he left it. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is still on the league's COVID protocol-related absences list, where he has been for the last week and is out for tonight's game. Defenseman Brayden McNabb is also on injured reserve, leaving Vegas without its usual top pair.

"We knew this was going to test our depth, what we've gone through here. We knew it was just a matter of time, and sure enough it's arrived," DeBoer said. "I'm excited about the guys going in."

Enter Nick Holden and Dylan Coghlan, the latter of whom will be making his NHL debut.

Coghlan, 22, went undrafted and signed with the Golden Knights in 2017. He played one more year of junior, then two in the AHL and has been on the Vegas taxi squad since training camp. He profiles as a puck-moving blue-liner with a booming shot and will be paired with Holden tonight.

He's also roommates with forward Cody Glass and defenseman Nicolas Hague, both of whom joined the organization in 2017. They will be playing in the NHL together for the first time.

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Betting line: Golden Knights minus-240, Kings plus-210; over/under: 5.5 (minus-115, minus-105)

Golden Knights (5-1-1, 11 points; 4th place, West Division)

Coach: Peter DeBoer (second season)

Points leader: Mark Stone (11)

Goals leader: Max Pacioretty (6)

Assists leader: Mark Stone (9)

Expected goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (1.00 GAA, .951 save percentage)

Kings (3-4-2, 8 points; 7th place, West Division)

Coach: Todd McLellan (second season)

Points leaders: Anze Kopitar (12)

Goals leader: Four players (3)

Assists leader: Anze Kopitar (11)

Expected goalie: Jonathan Quick (3.54 GAA, .885 save percentage)

Golden Knights projected lineup

Forwards

Max Pacioretty—Chandler Stephenson—Mark Stone

Jonathan Marchessault—William Karlsson—Reilly Smith

Nicolas Roy—Cody Glass—Alex Tuch

William Carrier—Tomas Nosek—Ryan Reaves

Defensemen

Alec Martinez—Shea Theodore

Nicolas Hague—Zach Whitecloud

Nick Holden—Dylan Coghlan

Goalies

Robin Lehner, Marc-André Fleury