A guide to the best Golden Knights home games

Las Vegas Review-Journal

5 years ago

Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) celebrates a goal by left wing Max Pacioretty, not pi ... — Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) celebrates a goal by left wing Max Pacioretty, not pictured, which he assisted on, during the first period of Game 4 of an NHL Western Conference quarterfinal series against the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in Las Vegas on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) lays on the ice after getting hit by Knights center Cody Eakin (out of frame) in the third period of game 7 of the Western Conference quarterfinals on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at SAP Center, in San Jose, Calif. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @BenjaminHphoto

San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones (31) and defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) block a shot from Golden Knights center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (41) during the third period of Game 6 of an NHL Western Conference quarterfinal series at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 21, 2019. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) skates up to Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) to congratulate him on scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of an NHL hockey game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019. (Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @carolinebrehman

Sharks center Joe Pavelski, middle, is helped off the ice by Sharks left wing Evander Kane (9) and Sharks center Joe Thornton (19) after getting hit by Knights center Cody Eakin (out of frame) in the third period of game 7 of the Western Conference quarterfinals on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at SAP Center, in San Jose, Calif. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @BenjaminHphoto

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) and center Nicklas Backstrom (19) celebrates after defeating the Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final to win the series at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, June 7, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates with the puck against Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jon Merrill (15) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, in Washington. The Capitals won 5-2. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

St. Louis Blues’ goalie Jordan Binnington (50) looks to make a save against Vegas Golden Knights’ Nick Holden (22) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 25, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Dilip Vishwanat)

St. Louis Blues’ goalie Jordan Binnington (50) makes a save against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 25, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Dilip Vishwanat)

St. Louis Blues’ goalie Jordan Binnington (50) and Ryan O’Reilly (90) defend the goal against Vegas Golden Knights’ Paul Stastny (26) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 25, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Dilip Vishwanat)

Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson moves in on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Montreal. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights’ Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (41) tries to hold off Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser (6) while skating with the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, in Vancouver, British Columbia.(Darryl Dyck /The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks’ Michael Del Zotto, Troy Stecher, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, from left, celebrate Boeser’s goal as Vegas Golden Knights’ Brayden McNabb skates to the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, in Vancouver, British Columbia.(Darryl Dyck /The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Malcolm Subban, left, makes a save against Colorado Avalanche center Derick Brassard during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Denver. The Avalanche won 4-3. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

From the moment the Golden Knights’ schedule was released in June, one home game was impossible to miss. The home opener against San Jose practically had wacky inflatable air men dancing by the curb and flashing neon signs pointing at it.

But a few others stood out, too.

With single-game tickets going on sale online at 10 a.m. Monday, here is a handy guide to the can’t-miss games at T-Mobile Arena.

Just to be different, one game from each month is highlighted.

October

vs. San Jose, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 2

Whoever wrote the algorithm for this season’s schedule deserves a raise based on this game alone.

Season opener. National TV on NBCSN. And the stench of Cody Eakin’s five-minute major penalty still lingering in the dry Vegas air.

More than 18,000 Knights fans are set to unleash five months of pent-up rage and frustration toward their newly minted rival in the form of Peter DeBoer clown costumes and “Not a major!” chants.

All that’s missing is Joe Pavelski.

November

vs. Toronto, 7 p.m., Nov. 19

The Maple Leafs’ past trips to T-Mobile Arena were on New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day, and the visiting fans helped create a rock concert energy inside the building.

This visit falls on an otherwise regular Tuesday night, but it sticks out like Warren Buffett at the dollar store amid a slew of home games against Western Conference foes. (For instance, defending Pacific Division champion Calgary is in town two nights earlier.)

Toronto is loaded with superstars, including Auston Matthews and John Tavares. Mitch Marner might even be signed by then.

December

vs. Colorado, 7 p.m., Dec. 23

From a betting perspective, this is a tough spot for the Knights at the end of a road-home back-to-back before the three-day Christmas break.

The upstart Avalanche, who also play in Las Vegas in October for Nevada Day, are expected to be a threat in the Western Conference after pushing San Jose to seven games in the second round of the playoffs last season.

Colorado added several pieces during the offseason, including former Knights center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, and defenseman Cale Makar is a leading candidate for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.

January

vs. St. Louis, 1 p.m., Jan. 4

This matinee drops the puck on a hockey tripleheader at T-Mobile Arena, with the championship and third-place games of the collegiate Fortress Invitational slated to follow.

The reigning Stanley Cup champions make the first of their two appearances in Las Vegas — Feb. 13 is the other — smack dab in the middle of a seven-game homestand for the Knights.

Goaltender Jordan Binnington has yet to play at T-Mobile Arena, but don’t expect him to be nervous. David Perron might even keep his shirt on if they play “Gloria” afterward.

PAAAAAAARTYYYYY!!!! @DP_57 my friend! pic.twitter.com/URtg9o6Vrm

— Gerard-DutchBluesFan (@Dutch_Bluesfan) June 15, 2019

February

vs. Washington, 3 p.m., Feb. 17

The Capitals and Knights are inexorably linked after meeting in the Stanley Cup Final, and this early start gets the nod over Tampa Bay’s visit Feb. 20. Besides, any time Alex Ovechkin and Co. show up at T-Mobile Arena, it’s a “pool party.”

Washington won two of three games at T-Mobile in the playoffs but is winless there during the regular season in two tries. Last season’s emotional matchup ended with two goals in the final 1:24 of the third period by Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt against his former team.

It also featured the latest installment of the Ryan Reaves-Tom Wilson rivalry entitled “The Lion in the Jungle.”

March

vs. Vancouver, 7 p.m., March 23

This is the penultimate home game for the Knights and falls around the time when they’ve clinched a playoff berth the past two seasons.

But it also could have implications for the Canucks, who are being pegged as a possible surprise team in the Pacific Division after missing the playoffs four straight seasons.

Vancouver is led by talented forwards Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, and upgraded its defense with rookie Quinn Hughes and free-agent signing Tyler Myers.

More Golden Knights: Follow at reviewjournal.com/GoldenKnights and @HockeyinVegas on Twitter.

Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.