Golden Knights vets slowly shake off rust in preseason debut

The Vegas Golden Knights needed more time than they hoped to shake off the rust in their preseason opener. What was expected to be a picture‑perfect performance turned into a 5‑4 overtime victory over the Utah Mammoth on Thursday, a game that served as a useful gauge of the shortened training camp and early preseason work. After a shaky start that left Vegas trailing 2‑1 and then 3‑1 after forty minutes, the Knights battled back. Goals from defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and captain Mark Stone sparked the comeback, and a six‑on‑five push from forward Tomas Hertl tied the game after Utah took the lead with 1:31 remaining. Center Jack Eichel sealed the win 39 seconds into overtime. Eichel commented, “It’s the mode the caller campy and preseason is situated wherever you don’t person arsenic overmuch time, but I thought determination were immoderate bully things successful the 2nd period,” Eichel said. “We came backmost to people successful antithetic areas.” He pointed to improved offensive play in the second period, noting the team began creating chances below the goal line and pressuring Utah goaltender Sebastian Cossa. “Turning defence into offence — that’s the calling card for this squad that’s made them as successful as they’ve been for a decade,” Eichel added. He also said, “We have a bunch of really good players here, and we only had three months off. I think guys have been taking advantage of the practices in training camp, trying to compete hard.” Vegas dressed close to its full opening‑night lineup. Coach Ryan Craig noted the veterans were eager to return to action after dropping Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final to the Carolina Hurricanes on June 14. Craig experimented with forward lines throughout the second period, seeking different combinations and a spark. Forward Trevor Connelly saw a few shifts alongside Eichel and Stone on the top line; Stone set up Connelly for a breakaway that missed wide. Victor Olofsson also moved around the ice, scoring the game’s first goal on a one‑timer from defenseman Shea Theodore and later generating a quality look with William Karlsson and Mitch Marner in the third period. Craig reflected on the details, saying, “Those small details, whether it was checking oregon defending, and past those small benignant of plays that you make, I thought it came through,” Craig said. “As for the combinations, that could beryllium however it works connected immoderate nights.” The Knights unveiled a revamped power play, with Theodore quarterbacking the top unit and Marner shifted to the right circle. The unit went 1‑for‑4, and Stone scored the tying goal on the man advantage with 6:54 left in regulation. On paper, Vegas should have dominated; Utah dressed only half of its NHL roster while the Knights were at full strength. Allowing four goals on twenty‑one shots is not the desired outcome for the team or goaltender Adin Hill, who appeared unsettled on the goals he surrendered in his second start. Preseason results, however, carry little weight. The Knights are now 3‑0 and will close the preseason Saturday against the San Jose Sharks. Noah Hanifin offered his perspective, stating, “I think, particularly with however agelong the play was past year, I deliberation 2 (preseason games) volition beryllium good,” Hanifin said. “I deliberation getting that 1 retired of the way, you get immoderate of that rust off, person a bully signifier time and past evidently Saturday volition beryllium different large accidental for us. We person to marque the astir of it due to the fact that it’s spell clip connected Tuesday.”