The Golden Knights got what they wanted in Game 1, and now Game 2 is about making that formula repeatable.
Vegas opened the series by turning Utah’s speed into a contact problem, then finishing the night with control in the third. The Knights want the same thing Tuesday in Game 2 at T-Mobile Arena, heavy hockey without the loose gaps that gave the Mammoth clean looks early.
Across the bracket, the first Game 2s are already telling the same story. Teams that stay disciplined and protect the middle are getting paid, and everyone else is chasing momentum that does not exist in April.
Yesterday’s games
Flyers clamp down
Philadelphia beat Pittsburgh 3-0 in Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead and tighten the vice.
Porter Martone scored at 13:39 of the second, then Garnet Hathaway added a shorthanded goal at 17:43. Luke Glendening’s empty-netter finished it late, and Dan Vladar stopped all 27 shots for the shutout.
Hurricanes outlast Ottawa again
Carolina beat Ottawa 3-2 in double overtime to go up 2-0, and it looked like the kind of game that leaves marks.
Logan Stankoven scored on the power play at 6:31 of the first, then Sebastian Aho made it 2-0 at 7:50 of the second. Ottawa tied it on goals from Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens later in the period, then Jordan Martinook ended it at 13:53 of 2OT. Linus Ullmark made 43 saves, and Frederik Andersen stopped 37.
Stars answer with a cleaner edge
Dallas beat Minnesota 4-2 in Game 2 to tie the series 1-1, and did it by staying steadier through the middle of the game.
Wyatt Johnston opened the scoring at 8:58 of the first, Brock Faber answered at 11:33, then Matt Duchene put Dallas back in front on the power play at 4:02 of the second. Jason Robertson made it 3-1 at 7:09 of the third, Faber pulled Minnesota within one at 9:47, and Johnston’s empty-net goal closed it at 19:10.
Oilers survive a sprint
Edmonton opened its series with a 4-3 win over Anaheim to take a 1-0 lead, and it was a track meet with mistakes on both sides.
The Oilers scored twice late in the first, but Anaheim answered with three goals in the second, including two from Troy Terry, one on the power play. Edmonton tied it on Jason Dickinson’s second of the night at 11:30 of the third, then Kasperi Kapanen scored the winner at 18:06.
Tonight’s games
Canadiens at Lightning
Montreal carries a 1-0 lead into Game 2, but the hinge is still discipline. The Canadiens won the opener by stacking power-play chances and cashing in.
Tampa’s pushback usually starts with a cleaner start and fewer giveaways at the blue lines. If this stays at five-on-five more often, the Lightning’s depth and home setup matter more.
Bruins at Sabres
Buffalo leads 1-0 after a third-period swing that turned Game 1 into a track meet late.
Boston’s job is to get back to structure early and avoid chasing the game. If the Bruins fall behind again, Buffalo’s pace and forecheck pressure will keep dictating terms.
Kings at Avalanche
Colorado already has a 1-0 edge and opens Game 2 as the heavy favorite at Ball Arena.
Los Angeles has to keep it tight again and make Colorado work through layers. If the Kings let the neutral-zone game open up, Nathan MacKinnon and that top gear can flip the night fast.
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Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
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