There’s nothing that tests the resolve more than a preseason game that needs extra time.
It has nothing to do with the nerves. It’s just another reminder that the regular season is around the corner.
The Vegas Golden Knights won’t complain. They’re 2-0 in the preseason following Tuesday’s 2-1 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center.
It’s not just two wins for the Knights. It’s two wins for a roster that was heavy on American Hockey League players against rosters that featured a share of NHL veterans.
“We saw some good efforts from everybody,” coach Ryan Craig said.
Here are four takeaways from the win:
Top pick gets playing time
The Knights did not have center Kai Uchacz (week to week) and forward Raphael Lavoie (day to day) because of undisclosed injuries. Craig called it an opportunity for a number of players, especially those making their preseason debuts.
One of those was 2026 first-round pick Juho Piiparinen. The 18-year-old defenseman arrived in Las Vegas on Sept. 15 after being recalled from Tappara from Liiga in Finland.
Piiparinen played 20 minutes, nine seconds and was a plus-1 in his first taste of NHL-style hockey. He skated with AHL veteran Adam Ginning on the third pair.
“I thought he trusted his reads. He was aggressive,” Craig said. “He put himself in position to make a difference, and he did tonight.”
Playing on shorter ice is the biggest adjustment for players coming over from Europe. That’s been no different for Piiparinen. He’s made up for it with a quick release and a quick first pass to break the puck out of the defensive zone.
“There’s no space when you’re breaking out and when you’re defending, there’s also not that much space,” Piiparinen said. “It’s a big difference for me.”
Røndbjerg ready for more
Jonas Røndbjerg has been on the cusp of making the NHL roster for years. The numbers game has never gone in favor of the Knights’ last remaining inaugural entry draft pick.
He took a good first step in making that happen. Røndbjerg played 18 minutes, 39 seconds while skating on the top line with Tanner Laczynski and Alexander Holtz.
“I thought we played great. Good details,” Røndbjerg said. “We had a pretty good push ourselves, too.”
His read-and-react skills have always been a strength. That’s been no different in camp. It’s a strength that will serve him well as he tries to crack the NHL roster.
The Knights will make another round of cuts prior to Thursday’s game against the Utah Mammoth. They want to get as close to their NHL roster as possible.
Those cuts will answer who is in line to be the Knights’ 13th forward. Uchacz was a possibility, but his injury opens the door.
Røndbjerg has made a strong case to be in that conversation.
“I thought it was pretty good for Game 1. I felt fine out there,” he said. “A bit heavy at times, but it’s Game 1, so it’s going to happen, but overall, I felt pretty great.”
Holtz has his moment
Another one competing for that spot is Holtz. The No. 7 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft has not lived up to that billing, even after a fresh start following the trade from New Jersey in June 2024.
Holtz has gone through a slow burn to earn his NHL minutes. He’s improved in other areas, but his offense hasn’t come.
His tying goal in the third period was the kind of moment he needed. He earned it with his play, as well as his line’s, throughout the game.
“I felt like I had a lot of opportunities, so it was nice to get one behind (San Jose goalie Yaroslav Askarov),” Holtz said. “I think I should’ve had more, but we’ll save them for the regular season.”
Much like Røndbjerg, the numbers game hurts Holtz. He’s not a fourth-line forward. His offensive capabilities make him a middle-six option by default. It would take an injury from someone up top to open the door for him.
There’s no doubting the work he’s put in.
“I want to show I can play a good 200-foot game and also create a lot of opportunities in the o-zone,” he said.
Hart starts strong
If there was any last-second thought that Carter Hart wouldn’t be the starting goaltender come opening night, he had a good start to silencing that Tuesday.
Hart finished with 28 saves in his preseason debut, including seven in overtime. The saves got bigger as the game wore on. The only goal he allowed was on the power play off a tough bounce.
“I thought Carter was there when we had a few breakdowns tonight,” Craig said. “I thought he tracked the puck well. He was there.”
That was what he hung his hat on in the playoffs, until he ran out of steam in the Stanley Cup Final. That body of work gives Hart the runway to be the No. 1 option over Adin Hill for the time being.
That leash may be shorter, but more outings like this will go a long way in extending it.
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
Up next
Who: Mammoth at Golden Knights
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: T-Mobile Arena
TV: KMCC-34
Streaming: KnightTime+
Radio: KVGS 107.9 FM