LAS VEGAS — With the game tied 1-1 early in the second period, Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras skated alone down the right side of the slot with the intent of doing what he’s done to so many, sniping a goal to give the Ducks a one-goal lead and momentum on the road.
Ilya Samsonov wasn’t having any of that Sunday night.
The veteran netminder turned away 22 shots in his Vegas debut – including Zegras’ attempt – as the Golden Knights defeated the Ducks, 3-1.
“Great opportunity, not easy game, because I’m not playing in a couple weeks,” Samsonov said. “Huge fans, huge atmosphere here, how I said before. I feel great. We won the game.”
Samsonov said he was glad to be a part of the home team in Vegas after losing his two only visits to T-Mobile Arena, once with Washington and another with Toronto.
“I think the best atmosphere in the league,” Samsonov said. “So happy to be here, so happy to play with these guys, this locker room and still enjoy every day.”
“I don’t think he was overly busy, but there were still saves to be made off good shooters on their team,” Cassidy said. “I thought he held his post well on the off-angle shots that you’re seeing in the league every night. … Everyone’s shooting those types of shots now so you got to be on your toes and he was.”
Samsonov, the 22nd overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, signed a one-year contract with Vegas in July after the 27-year-old spent the last two seasons in Toronto with the Maple Leafs, where he earned an overall record of 50-17-13 in 82 games with a .905 save percentage and 2.71 GAA.
Vegas improved to 3-0-0 on the young season, marking the fifth time since the Knights joined the NHL in 2017 that it’s opened the season undefeated after three games.
