Vegas Golden Knights right wing Jonathan Marchessault (81) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken during the first period of an NHL hockey game at T-Mobile Arena Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.
Published Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 | 1:52 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 | 10:39 p.m.
Final: Golden Knights 4, Kraken 1
Adin Hill finished with 32 saves, and the Golden Knights relied on the steady hand of their goaltender to a season-opening victory over Seattle on the night they lifted their Stanley Cup banner to the rafters.
Chandler Stephenson, Jonathan Marchessault and Ivan Barbashev each scored for the Golden Knights, who start the year with a win for the sixth time in their seven-year history. They haven't lost a season opener since 2018.
Jack Eichel scored into an empty net with 1:15 remaining for the final score.
It was a shaky start to the game with the Golden Knights not registering a shot on goal for the first seven minutes, but settled down once Stephenson's goal opened the scoring on Vegas' first shot of the game.
Vegas got the win in front of the largest crowd in regular season history — 18,724.
Forward William Carrier did not return to the game after leaving at the midway point in the second period. Vegas finished the game with 10 forwards, thanks to the game ejection of Brett Howden for a check to the head of Brandon Tanev.
But the Golden Knights put a cap on last season, starting this season with a win.
Howden ejected
Golden Knights forward Brett Howden was assessed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head of Kraken forward Brandon Tanev midway through the third period.
Howden collided with Tanev at center ice but raised his shoulder toward Tanev's head. The 31-year-old Seattle forward was slow to get up before eventually getting to the bench with assistance from the trainers.
The Golden Knights killed the five-minute major penalty to keep the lead at 3-1 with nine minutes remaining.
End of 2: Golden Knights 3, Kraken 1
Seattle found a way to ruin Adin Hill's shutout bid, but the Golden Knights are still carrying a two-goal lead into the third thanks to Ivan Barbashev.
The new $25 million man for Vegas received a stretch pass from the unlikeliest of distributors, Brayden McNabb, and scored on a breakaway to increase the Golden Knights' lead to 3-0 just over a minute into the frame.
Vegas got a much-needed response after the Kraken's Jared McCann scored at 8:19 to cut the lead back to two.
The Golden Knights didn't get out of the period unscathed, however. Forward William Carrier didn't play the final 12 minutes of the period.
The good news for Vegas, at least, is it's 20 minutes away from starting the season on the winning track for the sixth time in its seven-year history.
End of 1: Golden Knights 2, Kraken 0
It was about the most expected lackluster start to a season opener in franchise history. The Golden Knights didn't have a shot on goal for seven minutes and committed two penalties.
That first shot was the difference. Chandler Stephenson scored the Golden Knights' first goal of the season at 7:16 to give Vegas a 1-0 lead.
About seven minutes later, Jonathan Marchessault was gifted perhaps the easiest goal of his NHL career at 14:57 for a 2-0 lead. Seattle forward Brandon Tanev attempted to get the puck behind his net, but the clear deflected off the Conn Smythe Trophy winner's stick and past goalie Philipp Grubauer.
Loud "MVP!" chants rang through T-Mobile Arena.
It wasn't the best of starts — Seattle has an 11-10 edge in shots — but the stellar play of Adin Hill has Vegas off to a great start. Hill made a kick save on Kraken forward André Burakovsky moments before Stephenson redirected Brett Howden's pass into the net.
Golden Knights raise Stanley Cup banner
With one pull of a giant slot machine from Mark Stone, the banner was raised to the rafters.
Yes, it's as Vegas as it sounds.
The Golden Knights entered the ice for pregame warmups with team captain last in tow, bringing the Stanley Cup with him and his teammates for one more lap around the ice.
Stone placed the Stanley Cup on a table, pulled the lever on a giant slot machine that displayed three Stanley Cups across each screen. A gold background with "Stanley Cup Champions 2023" embroidered across the top was then slowly pulled to the top of T-Mobile Arena.
Now that that's over, there's a game to be played. Almost forgot about that.
Cotter ready for new challenge
The chip on Paul Cotter's shoulder, he said, comes from his style of play.
Cotter's physical brand of hockey is what defines him. It's something he feels needs consistency because it's what sets the 23-year-old apart.
That embodiment is what eventually separated Cotter from Pavel Dorofeyev and Max Comtois in the battle for the Golden Knights' open third-line left wing spot. He'll get the first crack at it.
Cotter will be in the lineup for Vegas' season opener tonight against the Seattle Kraken, skating on a line with William Karlsson and Michael Amadio.
"When people say there’s that left wing spot open, it drives me because I ultimately think it’s mine," Cotter said following morning skate. "It’s only up from here, in my eyes."
Cotter entered training camp as one of the favorites for that final roster spot because of how he fared his rookie season. Cotter had 13 goals in 55 games last season, starting as a fourth-line grinder then proving his worth throughout the lineup.
The pressure wasn't on Cotter to make the roster last year. He played all seven preseason games, impressing in each one and forcing coach Bruce Cassidy's hand.
Cotter knew the spotlight was going to be brighter this time around.
"I didn’t know if I was going to be on the team or not, and I wasn’t really under a spotlight at all. I played as hard as I could and it worked out," Cotter said. "This year, I’ve proved a little bit and I’m on more of a steady role."
Cotter and Dorofeyev had strong exhibition slates in Cassidy's mind, which made it easier to keep both of them on the opening day roster. Comtois, the former Anaheim forward who was signed to a professional tryout deal, was released Monday.
While the young forwards show willingness to attack the net, they bring different complements to Karlsson and Amadio. Cotter is more the physical force on the forecheck, while Dorofeyev makes has his shot and offensive instincts.
Cassidy still wants the third line to be a shutdown line with a hint of scoring. Cotter can best provide that.
"His game has taken a step every year, I think," Amadio said. "Paul’s a little heavier in the corners. (He and Dorofeyev) both get to the scoring areas and they capitalize on their chances."
Cassidy said Cotter's play in the last two preseason games gave him confidence to move Cotter around the lineup. He skated on the second line with Chandler Stephenson and Mark Stone while Karlsson was out due to injury. Cotter scored the game-winning goal in Thursday's 4-3 preseason win over Colorado because of his physicality.
Brett Howden centered the third line with Dorofeyev and Amadio in Karlsson's absence.
"I like our left side in terms of the continuity of what they bring," Cassidy said. "They’re all good forechecking guys; they can be heavy guys. They complement by going to the net."
Cotter understands it's on him to make this role permanent. He learned that when he watched the Golden Knights' run to the Stanley Cup as a healthy scratch from the press box.
His contribution to that championship isn't overlooked, but he hopes to be a major part in the Golden Knights' chances to repeat.
"It’s nice to be considered an everyday NHLer. Just all up from here," Cotter said. "Whatever role you have, you work harder and strive to have more. Ultimately, I want to rise in the lineup, have more minutes, more power play time as every other guy does."
Golden Knights projected lineup
Forwards
Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Jonathan Marchessault
Brett Howden - Chandler Stephenson - Mark Stone
Paul Cotter - William Karlsson - Michael Amadio
William Carrier - Nicolas Roy - Keegan Kolesar
Defensemen
Nic Hague - Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb - Shea Theodore
Ben Hutton - Brayden Pachal
Starting goalie
Adin Hill
How to watch
Time: 7:30 p.m. (puck drop set for 8:09 p.m. with banner raising ceremony starting near 7:55 p.m.)
TV: ESPN, ESPN+
Radio: Fox Sports 98.9 FM
Odds: Golden Knights -165/Kraken +140, O/U 6 (Westgate Superbook)
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
