Best of NHL: Golden Knights roll in emotional Las Vegas home opener

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LAS VEGAS -- The Vegas Golden Knights' debut on the Strip was a poignant smash.

James Neal scored twice during a thrilling four-goal first period, and the Golden Knights remained unbeaten three games into their inaugural season with a 5-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes in their home opener on Tuesday night.

Tomas Nosek scored the first home goal in franchise history just 2:31 into the first period, and Deryk Engelland added his first goal for his adopted hometown's new team moments later.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 31 saves for the Golden Knights, who became the first team in NHL history to begin their debut season with three straight wins.

Just nine days after the Las Vegas Strip shooting massacre, the Golden Knights reverently honored the victims and heroes before the long-awaited home debut of the city's first major professional sports franchise.

The Knights held a pregame ceremony during which the names of the shooting victims were projected in gold onto the ice during 58 seconds of silence. Engelland spoke eloquently to the fans, vowing that the Golden Knights "will do everything we can to help you and our city heal. We are Vegas Strong."

After that emotional outpouring, the Golden Knights charged into their home opener with some inspired hockey (see full recap).

Milano, Blue Jackets top Hurricanes in overtime
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Sonny Milano scored two goals, including the game-winner on a breakaway with 22 seconds left in overtime to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.

Milano scored midway through the third period before Jeff Skinner tied it late in regulation with Carolina's net empty. Sergei Bobrovsky, last season's Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's top goalie, made 37 saves for Columbus.

Scott Darling, obtained in an offseason trade with Chicago, stopped 25 shots for the Hurricanes.

Milano scored on a ricochet off Darling's backside at 10:01 of the third, assisted by Oliver Bjorkstrand and Nick Foligno. Milano became the first Columbus player to score in the first three games of a season.

Skinner tied it with an unassisted goal at 18:35 after the Hurricanes had pulled Darling.

Columbus is 15-3-0-3 in the all-time series and 8-7-0-2 in Raleigh (see full recap).

Senators edge Canucks in shootout for 1st win
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Mark Stone scored in the fifth round of the shootout as the Ottawa Senators picked up their first win of a season with a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.

Kyle Turris kept Ottawa alive in the third round of the shootout after Markus Granlund gave Vancouver the early lead.

Cody Ceci and Ryan Dzingel scored in regulation for Ottawa (1-0-2), which got 26 saves from Craig Anderson.

Christopher Tanev and Thomas Vanek scored in regulation for Vancouver (1-0-1), while Henrik Sedin added two assists. Jacob Markstrom made 40 saves.

Tanev hit the post 28 seconds into overtime, before Sven Baertschi was stopped on a breakaway as Vancouver came close a couple of times in the extra period. Ottawa lost its first two games of the season in a shootout (see full recap).

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