Golden Knights at Coyotes
The Vegas Golden Knights relied on their two marquee players to win the first game in franchise history and hope to make it two victories in as many nights when they visit the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday. James Neal scored a pair of third-period goals against his former team and Marc-Andre Fleury made 45 saves Friday as Vegas posted a 2-1 triumph in Dallas.
Neal, who has scored at least 21 goals in each of his first nine NHL seasons, reached the Stanley Cup Final last season with Nashville but came up short against Pittsburgh as Fleury came away with his third championship, albeit in a backup role this time around. The 32-year-old Fleury could be given a rest versus Arizona, which squandered a three-goal lead en route to a 5-4 loss at Anaheim in its season opener Thursday. First-year coach Rick Tocchet was encouraged by the play of a pair of key youngsters, however, as Max Domi recorded a goal and an assist while Anthony Duclair also tallied. The 22-year-old Domi scored only nine goals for the Coyotes last season after netting twice as many as a rookie in 2015-16 while Duclair, also 22, followed a 20-goal campaign by recording only five tallies in 2016-17.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Vegas), FSN Arizona
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (1-0-0): Neal scored the first goal in franchise history at 10:27 of the third period and capped his two-tally performance 6:49 later while Fleury turned aside 11 shots in the session after stopping 20 in the second. Malcolm Subban, who was claimed off waivers from Boston on Tuesday, could give Fleury a much-deserved night off and make his third NHL start Saturday. The 23-year-old brother of former Norris Trophy winner and current Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban made one start for the Bruins each of the last two seasons, losing both.
ABOUT THE COYOTES (0-1-0): Antti Raanta hopes to make his Coyotes debut after nursing a lower-body injury over the last few weeks and serving as Louis Domingue's backup in the season opener. "Every day there has been a little progress," Raanta, who was acquired from the New York Rangers in June, told the team's website after Friday's practice. "It was a good skate today, lots of shots. I felt real good." Clayton Keller, a 19-year-old center who was drafted seventh overall in 2016, scored his first career goal in the season opener - his fourth NHL contest - while 20-year-old right wing Christian Fischer also tallied, giving him four goals in eight career games.
OVERTIME
1. Golden Knights C Jonathan Marchessault, who spent last season with Florida, received the first penalty in franchise history Friday as he was called for roughing 9:10 into the contest.
2. Arizona D Alex Goligoski matched his career high with three assists in the season opener.
3. Vegas LW David Perron led the team with five shots in the opener while C Cody Eakin topped the club with 22 minutes, 57 seconds of ice time.