These two teams would have wanted to win last season, but they’ll have to be content with their wins last night. The New York Rangers and the Vegas Golden Knights got their revenge for last season’s disappointments as they kicked off the 2022/23 NHL season.
I’m a little surprised that the Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning, the two Stanely Cup Finalists from last season, where not scheduled for opening night, but these two games were good too.
The New York Rangers pitted against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the team that knocked them out in the Conference Finals, while the Vegas Golden Knights faced off against the Los Angeles Kings, the team that finished only a few points ahead of them for the 8th and final playoff spot.
Now, both games were very exciting, but if I had to choose which one was a more enjoyable watch, I think I would have to give it to the Rangers vs. Lightning. These two teams are the cream of the crop in the Eastern Conference, as their records last year showed, and this game proved they were still at the top of their games. And especially Andrei Vasilevskiy and Igor Shesterkin.
These two goalies had an absolute battle last night, with both goalies making incredible saves early on in that game to keep the scores close until the Rangers finally broke through on route to a 3-1 win. Vasilevskiy, in particular, once again proved that he’s the best goalie in the NHL as he at least saved 5 would-be goals at full stretch.
But, like I said, he wasn’t able to keep the Rangers out forever as Mika Zibanejad buried two goals past him in the 2nd and 3rd period. Funnily enough, he scored his first goal on the penalty kill and then his second on the powerplay. You don’t see that every day.
Nonetheless, if Mika Zibanejad can keep up his outstanding point tallies that he set last season into this season, then the Rangers have a great of making it back to the Eastern Conference Finals. They already have the reigning Vezina Trophy winner in Igor Shesterkin net, with the 2021 Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox on the blue line just ahead of him.
All they need is consistent scoring from guys not named Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider or Artemi Panarin to have another successful season. That’ll be up to Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil, Vincent Trocheck, and Kaapo Kakko.
As for the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Los Angeles Kings game, it made up in late goals for what it lacked in drama. I’ve got to be honest, even though this game had a crazy third period with five goals being shared between the two teams, it was kind of boring for the opening 40 minutes.
The Vegas Golden Knights, still clearly still aggrieved about the Kings beating them out for the 8th playoff spot, dominated LA on their own home ice.
Jonathan Quick was forced to make 47 saves to just keep the Kings in the game, and he still gave up four goals. I know the game ended 4-3 for the Golden Knights with a last-minute winner from Mark Stone, but it really wasn’t that close.
Yes, the Kings stayed in the game and never trailed by more than one goal, but the Golden Knights were extremely unlucky not to get at least another two past Quick. The 36-year-old netminder, who should be a future hall-of-famer (at least in my opinion), showed that he still has another season of high-level hockey in him.
Still, it was good to see Jack Eichel and Mark Stone get on the scoring sheet for the Golden Knights after years of injury woes, but this game wasn’t much of a test for them or Vegas. Games against the Avalanche, Oilers, Flames, Blues, and the Predators. These will be the teams that pressure the Knights the most for a Top-3 division spot and the #1 seed in the West.
Anyway, there’s not really much to take away from these games other than the fact that it is great to see hockey is back. Finally!
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