Kraken lose first NHL game to Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS -- The Seattle Kraken lost their first NHL game, 4-3 to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday.

Seattle trailed 3-0 but scored twice in 1:12 in the second period. Ryan Donato scored the first goal in Kraken history at 11:32 to make it 3-1, and Jared McCann made it 3-2 at 12:44.
"We just came together," Donato said. "We obviously hadn't been in that situation before, but we've all played on different teams and been in that situation on other teams. We knew as soon as we got one, the others would come."

Morgan Geekie tied it 3-3 at 7:58 of the third period.
"It's a spectacular city and they put on quite a show," Geekie said. "It was more exciting than anything, and to be a part of the new franchise is something special to be a part of."
Chandler Stephenson gave Vegas a 4-3 lead at 8:33 of the third after the puck deflected off his skate. Mark Stone, who had three assists, forced a turnover in the neutral zone and created a 3-on-2.
The goal was upheld after video review determined there was no distinct kicking motion.
Asked if he thought his goal was going to count, Stephenson said, "I wasn't really too sure. I was kind of asking around what the ruling was, and I guess it being on the outside of my skate helped."
"I know what I saw and believed," Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. "I thought it was a kicking motion. There's a gray area on those calls."
Max Pacioretty scored twice and had an assist for the Golden Knights, who won their season opener for the fourth time in their five-year history. Their top line of Stone, Pacioretty and Stephenson combined to score eight points, and Robin Lehner made 28 saves.

The Golden Knights were eliminated last season in the best-of-7 Stanley Cup Semifinals, when they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in six games.
"Things didn't end well for us last year in the playoffs," Stone said. "We did a little bit of soul searching this summer and we wanted to be ready for opening day of camp, opening day of the season. It's about being consistent for 82 games."
Philipp Grubauer made 26 saves in his first start with the Kraken. A finalist with the Colorado Avalanche last season for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the best goalie in the NHL, Grubauer signed a six-year, $35.4 million contract (average annual value of $5.9 million) with Seattle on July 28.
Pacioretty scored at 3:10 of the first period after he received a cross-ice pass from Stone on a 3-on-2 to give the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead.
Jonathan Marchessault made it 2-0 at 6:36 of the first. Reilly Smith forced a turnover against Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn in the corner, and William Karlsson passed to Marchessault alone in the slot. Marchessault deked and scored forehand to backhand.

Pacioretty made it 3-0 at 6:43 of the second period off a deflection from Nicolas Hague.
"I thought our top two lines were exceptional, and we needed them to be," Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer said. "We were essentially shorthanded tonight with the lineup we dressed … we had to really lean on the big guys."
Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo played his 800th NHL game. He blocked three shots in a game-high 26:17.
"The guy's a beast," Stone said. "Now you're seeing the Alex Pietrangelo that we kind of saw at the end of the season and the playoffs."
NOTES: The Golden Knights are 91-0-1 all time when leading by three goals. … McCann, Kraken forward Joonas Donskoi and defenseman Jamie Oleksiak were cleared from NHL COVID-19 protocol prior to the game. … It was the first pro hockey game for a Seattle team since the Totems played in the Central Hockey League in 1975. … Pacioretty had his eighth three-point game since the start of last season; only Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid has more (18). … Marchessault scored his third season-opening goal with the Golden Knights. … Vegas rookie forward Pavel Dorofeyev played 4:07 in his NHL debut, and defenseman Dylan Coghlan was used as a forward and played 4:37.