Were all players that come from different teams Its been good. Just stop talking, alright? Whatre you guys doing down here, shots? Are you so happy that daddys playing here now? It was all a dream! Now its real. Hockeys in Vegas. Here we go, boys! Alright.
3, 2, 1. A gunman opened fire at a crowded country
music festival on the Las Vegas strip. Its almost surreal. You all want to be united in times like this.
A knight is noble, strong, fierce, tough. Neal, shot, scores! Coming back 2-0 for our season opener is pretty special. If you werent aware, tomorrow is our home opener. [Clapping] Ah, its a big day.
First home game for our franchise, so a lot of things happening especially with the event on
the first of October, so Im sure its going to be really emotional. We were just doing the strip to show
the kids and my mother in laws in town so we went to that and found
Mandalay Bay and its so sad. All the people there crying and you pass by and see that on your left and
on the right you see the two windows that arent even replaced yet Oh my God, it was heartbreaking to see. That arena is unbelievable.
You think its nice, but when you
actually get there, its beautiful. Alright. The home openers going to be pretty special. Going to practice in the morning
to showing up at the rink and I think they have a gold carpet.
Just to see the atmosphere and the
fans and you know, play for real. Well, the relationship is just starting, its new, its fresh, but you see a lot of people excited
generally excited to have us there. Its going to be a fun year. Were going to do big things, I think
this year, so Its going to be good.
I remember calling my mom and I said, hey, dont take this the wrong way, I love
home. You know, Minnesota's obviously gonna be home, but this place just has a feeling to it it
wasnt like you just got traded to a distant place It just, it felt like you were a part of home and
thats why the last few days have been so hard." Tonight is obviously a momentous
occasion for a brand new team to play its first home game. This team will represent a unification of the city a point of healing, if you will. The importance of the team given what has
happened over the last week is extremely huge I think its brought a lot of people together.
The vibe outside is amazing, its
electric, the vibe inside: same. Everybodys waiting for that puck to drop its going to go crazy. Tonight things are different in tone and appearance. Youre going to notice that the boards
here this evening have no sponsorships just the words Vegas Strong".
And thats been the rallying
cry here over the last several days. And its a concept that has
motivated the Golden Knights as they prepare for tonights opening. Its been an emotional time for the city. You know, weve tried to go in the community and
we try to do little things to brighten the mood, but tonights about us putting some smiles on people's
faces and hopefully we can cap it off with a win.
OK, tonight we know its going to be a
tough opening ceremony, okay? Its going to be tough. Lets make sure after the ceremonys
over, were ready to go, okay? Were supportive, were ready to go. But compete and battle hard, and
lets have a great hockey game tonight and win another by two points, okay? First game at home, lets take care of business tonight. Ready to go, guys, here we go! [Cheering] Hockey team is such a great community
partner and they're bringing everything together for a common support today and thats a wonderful
thing for the city as well as for the hockey team.
Were just going to keep the orchestral going were waiting on players. Players are gathering right now, stand by. Standby network, theyre in the tunnel now. Here we go, boys.
[Announcer] Firefighter, Derek Sutherland [Cheering] [Announcer] Accompanied by number five, Deryk Engelland. The tragedy that happened you never think its
going to happen here at home and for it to happen, its just horrific and your
hearts go out to the families of those 58 victims. [Announcer] These individuals will never be forgotten. May their light long shine.
[Announcer] Ladies and gentleman, Deryk Engelland! Like all of you, Im proud to call Las Vegas home. [Cheering] I met my wife here, my kids were born
here, and I know how special this city is. [Cheering] The team kind of helped me and then my wife cut out
a bunch because she knew I wasnt the greatest speaker. To the families and friends of the victims,
know that well do everything we can to help you and our city heal.
[Cheering] We are Vegas Strong. [Cheering] I think our organization did an exceptional job. I'm really proud of how that went off for us, for our city, for our league, for our country and then to transition into the game [Announcer] And away we go. We couldnt lose this game tonight.
We couldn't. We had to win this game. [Announcer] Vegas coming in having won their first two games. [Announcer] What a great job of puck moving
by the Golden Knights through the neutral zone.
Tomas Nosek has put the Golden Knights on the board. You get that first goal and just to hear that crowd,
you just get that little extra jump in your step. [Announcer] Taken up by Brendan Leipsic. Leipsic dangling looking up top, they score! [Announcer] Its the hometown hero! Come out and get a few quick ones helped
out a lot and just to get the crowd into it, it was amazing to see it.
Stay on top of those pucks in the zone there you guys are way too quick for them. [Announcer] And Neal scores! [Announcer] They score! What start for the Vegas Golden Knights here at home. 4 Goals in the first period, 2 from James Neal. Pretty good speech! I had goosebumps.
I feel like Im a pretty good public
speaker, but I wouldve been nervous. Great start, boys. Were moving our feet, were skating,
we did exactly what we wanted to do. We kept it simple, we put pucks through the net,
thats why we have four goals.
We played the right way. They got one cheap goal back, but we're battling
and playing the right way and continue to play the right way. Dont change a thing, OK? Play our style. We're getting a little softer towards the end, stay focused here.
Dont give em life. [Announcer] Shot! They score! Lindberg! 5-1. [Announcer] Final seconds [Announcer] The Vegas Golden Knights have made NHL history. [Announcer] The first expansion club ever to get to a 3-0 start.
Wooo! Great job, that was moving. It was fantastic. Went a lot better than I was expecting. Werent you a little nervous? Sure.
Ive probably said it a thousand times. Howd the players do tonight? Man were they inspirational, weren't they?
They were fantastic. Thats what makes sports so amazing sometimes, to see a team come out and play like
that, and have this crowd respond It felt like the whole country was behind us. So, were looking at the best start in
the history ofa 100 year history of the NHL for an expansion team.
[Cheering] Unbelievable for a professional sports team to start in a city and do it in the face of the terrible tragedy that we saw here last week in Las Vegas is incredible. The unity, the coming together, in the healing that tonight represented for this city is something you should all be proud of. And we know the best is yet to come. Vegas Strong.
Golden Knights strong. All the success in the world..
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