LAS VEGAS — After falling behind by a goal in their home opener against the Colorado Avalanche, the Vegas Golden Knights wasted no time in stealing momentum and overwhelming their guests in the first period.
Vegas got goals from Victor Olofsson, Ivan Barbashev and Mark Stone in less than eight minutes to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
Per Stathead, the Golden Knights’ three goals are the most they’ve ever scored in the first period of a season opener. Vegas had scored two goals in the opening period in four previous season openers.
Olofsson, who left the Sabres as a free agent and signed with Vegas in July, gave Vegas its first goal of the season just 27 seconds after Mikko Rantanen opened the scoring for Colorado.
It may have been a sign of good things to come considering Olofsson scored just seven goals in 51 games with Buffalo last season.
With 1:28 left in the first period, Noah Hanifin sent a pass through the slot for Barbashev, who quickly gathered the puck and fired it past Colorado netminder Alexandar Georgiev to give Vegas a 2-1 lead.
It would only take 25 seconds for Vegas’ captain to extend the lead, as he skated in on a 2-on-1 with Jack Eichel, who layered a perfect backhanded pass for Stone, who one-timed it past Georgiev to make it 3-1.
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