Golden Knights ready to get down to business at Lake Tahoe

By Justin Emerson

Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 | 2 a.m.

STATELINE — It’s easy to get distracted next to Lake Tahoe. Even the head of the NHL crew that built the rink joked it’s hard to work with views from the office.

The Golden Knights’ office today is an outdoor rink atop a golf course at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort, mere steps from the lake. They’ll be taking on the Colorado Avalanche at noon, and as fun as the glitz and glamour of playing by the lake is, when the clock starts counting, it’s all business.

“Once the puck drops, you’re zoned in,” forward William Karlsson said. “I don’t think the scenic view and everything will be a distraction. I think everyone is just going to lock in on playing and winning two points.”

Outside of how it will look on TV, there are a few things that make an outdoor game different. It was windy at practice Friday, which would impact not only the puck, but also the players skating. Bright sun could cause glare on the ice and rain or snow could throw a wrench into various aspects of the game.

Luckily, the forecast is on the side of keeping the elements out of it. While snow is expected early in the morning, it should clear up by noon, where it is expected to be about 30 degrees and partly sunny with mild breezes at puck drop — perfect hockey weather.

“This is obviously something we’ve circled on our calendar since the announcement,” captain Mark Stone said. “It kind of takes everything away that’s going on in the world right now, so we’re pretty excited to be here, pretty excited to play (today). Should be a fun experience."

There have been 30 outdoor games in NHL history, but none like this. It’s the first on a golf course, it’s the first featuring natural views and the first high-level hockey game at Lake Tahoe since the 1960 Olympics.

And of course it’s the first outdoor game featuring the Golden Knights. Eleven Vegas players have participated in one — Max Pacioretty has played in three, including the time his Canadiens played against Stone’s Senators — and Pete DeBoer coached the Sharks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, in 2015.

“For sure part of the message here is going to be to enjoy this,” DeBoer said. “At the same time, the points are critical, and I know the other team is going to be playing for keeps and I think we know that. There’s a fine line there between enjoying the experience and everything that surrounds it, but also being ready at game time.”

The other team is also almost healthy for the first time against Vegas this year. Captain Gabriel Landeskog and defenseman Samuel Girard are bott off the league’s COVID Protocol Related Absences list, and defenseman Cale Makar, the reigning Calder Trophy winner as the league’s top rookie, is a game-time decision. None of them played in the first two games against the Golden Knights.

The Golden Knights are almost fully healthy as well. Vegas is short goalie Robin Lehner (upper-body injury) and forward Tomas Nosek (COVID protocol) but is otherwise running out close to its top lineup.

Vegas might just need it. The Golden Knights and Avalanche are expected to be two of the top teams in the West Division this season, meaning today’s game is more important than normal, even discounting the game’s location.

Admittedly, the location might catch an eye or two during the game.

“During the practice (Friday) there was a couple of moments you just wanted to take a step back and really soak up what’s going on here,” forward Reilly Smith said. “During the game I’m sure everyone is going to be pretty locked in.

“I think our key to the game is try to keep things simple and quit staring at the mountains.”