LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Ivan Barbashev, Mark Stone and Victor Olofsson each scored two goals and the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Colorado Avalanche 8-4 on Wednesday night in the team’s season opener.
Barbashev also had two assists, linemate Jack Eichel added four and defenseman Shea Theodore added three. Adin Hill finished with 28 saves.
Mikko Rantanen scored three goals, and Casey Mittelstadt also scored for the Avalanche. Alexander Georgiev made 11 saves. Justus Anunen replaced Georgiev and stopped two of Georgiev’s four shots.
takeout
Avalanche: As the team’s No. 1 goaltender, Georgiev struggled badly to allow more than five goals in the 34th regular season game of his career. He entered the game against Las Vegas with a 4-4-2 mark, posting a 2.59 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.
Golden Knights: Las Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy emphasized the importance of chemistry with his forwards during training camp, saying he wanted to develop one player before adding a third piece once he felt confident in the initial pairing. We started by building chemistry with a center and one winger. Cassidy seemed to cope well with the top line of Stone, Barbashev and Eichel, with the trio scoring a combined 10 points.
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important moment
Trailing 1-0 midway through the first period, the Golden Knights quickly tied the game when Olofsson took a shot at Georgiev from near the bottom of the right circle and fired a short-side shot over the goalie’s right shoulder. I caught up.
Main status
Rantanen’s hat trick was the eighth of his career and second of the calendar year. Five of Rantanen’s eight hat tricks came last season on March 19 in St. Louis.
to the next
The Avalanche host Columbus on Saturday and the Golden Knights continue their season-opening three-game homestand by hosting St. Louis on Friday.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl