The Las Vegas Golden Knights faced the San Jose Sharks for the first time in the 2025-26 season on Oct. 3 at T-Mobile Arena to close out the preseason. The Knights lost 4-1, ending the preseason with a 3-4 record.
PERIOD 1:
Adin Hill started in goal for the Knights. Colton Sissons won the face-off to get the Knights going. However, the Sharks gained possession, and Ethan Cardwell scored 2:18 minutes into the period. Las Vegas came back with three consecutive shots on goal, two by Reilly Smith. Mitch Marner had a breakaway wrist shot to the top left of the goal that was saved by Sharks’ goalie Alex Nedeljkovic. The gloves came off of San Jose’s Zack Ostapchuk as he squared up against Jeremy Lauzon. Both players were put in the box for a five-minute penalty with 9:11 minutes remaining. Hertl joined Lauzon in the box for a two-minute goalie interference call, giving the Sharks their first power play. San Jose only had two shots on goal in that time. The Knights secured their first power play after Carl Grundstrom got a two-minute cross-checking penalty. Their power play time extended when Shane Bowers was penalized for tripping. The Knights had seven shots on goal during the man advantage.
PERIOD 2:
It took Las Vegas about four minutes to get hot in the second period. The offense was finally connecting on passes and fired three shots in 10 seconds. The Knights went on their third power play of the game and tallied three shots after Will Smith was called for hooking. In a jumble at the net, Brett Howden was called for goalie interference, giving the Sharks their second power play opportunity. Egor Afanasyev killed the power play, putting the Sharks ahead 2-0. Lauzon was put in the penalty box for a second time, giving the Sharks a third power play. The period ended with the Sharks being charged a roughing penalty against Vincent Desharnais.
PERIOD 3:
Las Vegas started the third period on their fourth power play, where they took three shots. Sisson, Keegan Kolesar, Grundstrom and Afanasyev were all penalized for a fight that broke out at 14:04. Cardwell scored for the Sharks, and Alexander Holtz scored right after for the Knights, making it a 3-1 game. Las Vegas pulled Hill from the goal, and Cardwell scored to put San Jose ahead, winning the game 4-1. The Knights led the game with 30 shots on goal compared to San Jose’s 20. Smith led the Knights with seven shots on goal.
Next up, the Knights will host the Los Angeles Kings in the regular season opener on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Stream the game at 7pm PT on HBO MAX or on air on TNT.
