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I experience my first win at a Vegas Golden Knights game

I experience my first win at a Vegas Golden Knights game

Fun fact: Coming into Sunday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks, the Vegas Golden Knights were 0-3 every time I attended a game. My first game was on April 18, 2022, when the Golden Knights took on the New Jersey Devils, long before Tomas Hertl and Ivan Barbashev were on the team. Would the struggling team defeat the rebuilding Devils? No. 3-2, Devils.

The Golden Knights’ next game was on December 27, 2022. It was an away game in…Los Angeles. I saw Vegas doubled 4-2 in the land of narcissistic celebrities. But hey! They got a power play goal from Michael Amadio. Maybe the third time, on February 12, 2024, against the Minnesota Wild, is the charm? Surely that’s the right thing to do, right?

Arnold, take it away.

The Wild would pull away in the third period and win 5-3. Just when I thought a Golden Knights win would soothe the soul after a devastating Super Bowl loss, that didn’t happen. Three games in a row that Vegas lost while I was there. I had to find a game where I could watch the fabled flamingos fly after a hard-fought victory.

Could it be October 13th against the Ducks? Maybe a few games on October 25th and 26th against the Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks? Anyway, I needed a game against an “easy” opponent to break the curse. Otherwise there would have been an unbelievable series of defeats. The torches and pitchforks can’t be left at the front door, you know?

How I came to watch the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights

Choosing a Vegas Golden Knights game is never an easy task. You need to weigh your work schedule, your favorite NFL team’s game times, tasks to be completed, and other matters before making a decision. Plus, you don’t want to see Vegas lose. That wouldn’t be cool.

So it was time to take a look at the old schedule and see some available dates. After watching the Golden Knights lose to the Devils, Kings and Wild (along with another Henderson Silver Knights loss to the Ontario Reign in February 2022), I came across October 13th. At that time the home team was playing against the Anaheim Ducks.

No work or obligations? Perfect. I accept the order. I started the day by heading to New York for a dining experience at Nine Fine Irishmen. It was, as the name suggests, an Irish pub where numerous other Golden Knights fans gathered. In the background could be seen the final minutes of a dominant victory for the Detroit Lions over the Dallas Cowboys. In its place came a soon-to-be dominant win by the Los Angeles Dodgers over the New York Mets.

Here I ordered a “Hot Chicken” sandwich with lettuce, spicy mayonnaise and a delicious white cheese (I think it was provolone) topped with crispy chicken. It was good but filling, so I sat back and enjoyed the dining experience. The waitress was extremely accommodating, checking in regularly and even giving me extra water. 10/10, would definitely recommend.

I’ll watch the game myself

There’s nothing better than going to T-Mobile Arena to watch the Vegas Golden Knights play hockey. You enter a modern arena with an elegant design and the latest additives that make it a real experience. It’s a testament to Bill Foley’s commitment to growing the game of hockey in Nevada.

This includes a privately funded arena where fans of all backgrounds can enjoy an NHL game. On Sunday, it was Pittsburgh Steelers fans strolling the Las Vegas Strip and making their way to T-Mobile Arena. They were the game’s second most represented fan base (besides the home team, the Golden Knights), dwarfing the Anaheim Ducks’ fan base.

Nevertheless, the game itself was exciting. In the first period, Brett Howden took advantage of an open opportunity in front of the net and scored the first goal. This was followed by a breakaway goal from Troy Terry, where Ilya Samsonov had no chance. The Ducks would generate more offensive pressure and take advantage of Vegas’ mistakes.

The game remained tied in the second period (which was almost entirely due to a high stick from Alexander Holtz on an obvious power play goal). The air was tense and people were on the edge of their seats. Would I see the Golden Knights lose again? Or would a bigger name like Ivan Barbashev step in and save the day for everyone at T-Mobile Arena?

“Not so fast,” said Tomas Hertl

The third period brought different fates. Oddly enough, it happened on the power play, where dedicated specialist Tomas Hertl scored his first goal five minutes into the third minute. Mark Stone found the former Sharks star breaking through up front and passed for the easy goal. The court exploded as the Vegas Golden Knights moved one step closer to 3-0-0.

Then Pavel Dorofeyev followed and also scored his first goal thanks to Keegan Kolesar’s excellent forechecking. This put the game out of reach and brought the Golden Knights closer to victory. Finally, I witnessed the fabled flamingos dotting the ice at T-Mobile Arena. Life couldn’t have been better knowing I wasn’t the damn fan all the time.

Going to a Golden Knights game is fun, whether it’s the pregame festivities or seeing Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev get together for more magic. However, they are even better when the home team wins. Everyone goes home in a better mood, leaving the stressful dangers of life behind them. As the saying goes, “You always remember your first.”

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