Peyton Krebs shines in Golden Knights’ preseason win over Avalanche

Peyton Krebs made his strongest case yet to be included on the Golden Knights’ opening night roster.

The top prospect notched four points Tuesday in his best performance of the preseason, helping the Knights to a 7-4 victory over Colorado at Ball Arena in Denver.

“It’s just one of those nights where you feel like you barely break a sweat and the puck’s following you,” Krebs said. “I still look back at the game and know some things I want to improve on. I knew it was going to come obviously. I want to show the coaches that I can be here full time.”

Krebs, who is one of a handful of forwards battling to make the team, scored on a deflection early in the third period and added three assists. He also was involved in Reilly Smith’s unassisted goal that put the Knights ahead 3-1 in the third period and finished with a plus-5 rating.

The only blemish for the 2019 first-round selection was a pair of holding penalties, which he was admonished for each time by referee Wes McCauley.

“He was good,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “He’s trying to make a statement here. He knows we’re coming down to the wire on decisions.”

Knights defenseman Alec Martinez scored twice, and centers William Karlsson and Jake Leschyshyn finished with a goal and an assist. Keegan Kolesar opened the scoring in the first period.

The Knights led 6-2 before the Avalanche scored a pair power-play goals in the third period.

Andre Burakovsky and Mikko Rantanen each had two goals, and Nathan MacKinnon tallied two assists for Colorado, which went 3-for-4 on the power play.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

1. Patrick settles in

Nolan Patrick admitted during a pregame interview the Knights systems are different than what he played in Philadelphia.

But the center, who was acquired in the offseason for former first-round pick Cody Glass, did more reacting and less thinking against the Avalanche. He played faster and showed the talent that made him the No. 2 overall pick in 2017.

“Probably his best game of the preseason, too,” DeBoer said.

Patrick picked up an assist on Keegan Kolesar’s first-period goal, helping to pin Colorado in its zone with a strong forecheck. He then used his body to shield the puck away from Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon along the wall.

Later in first, Patrick had a chance when he swatted the puck out of midair, but it sailed over the net. His best look came during a two-on-one rush early in the second that was turned away by goalie Pavel Francouz, who later left with an injury.

After Patrick was slow to click with Mattias Janmark and Evgenii Dadonov as linemates, he appeared to have instant chemistry with Janmark and Kolesar.

2. Carrier bloodied

Jonathan Marchessault was given the night off, so another Golden Misfit skated in his place.

But William Carrier’s chance on the top line ended early, as he left the game with 5:21 left in the second period after being inadvertently kicked in the face by the skate of Avalanche defenseman Kurtis MacDermid after they tangled in the neutral zone.

Carrier joins a growing injury list that includes forwards Nicolas Roy and Brett Howden, who are each day to day. There was no update on Carrier following the game.

If he’s out for any length of time, that could open the door for Krebs or another forward such as Patrick Brown to make the team out of camp.

3. Thompson hangs tough

Goalie Logan Thompson finished with 34 saves, including a handful of acrobatic stops in the second period when he was under heavy pressure from the Avalanche.

Minus the three goals scored by Colorado’s lethal power play, Thompson turned in a solid outing.

DeBoer said Thompson earned a couple of starts in the preseason based on his play last season when he was the American Hockey League goalie of the year. He stopped 24 of 28 shots in a 4-2 loss to San Jose in the exhibition opener.

DeBoer gave Thompson a vote of confidence as the organization’s No. 3 goalie in case of emergency.

“I thought L.T. did a good job in net when he had to,” DeBoer said. “Some big shooters over on the other side there.”

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