A Presidential Welcome
The Golden Knights were invited by President Joe Biden to the White House on Monday, November 13, to celebrate their historic achievement of winning the Stanley Cup in their fifth season of existence. The team was greeted by the president and vice president Kamala Harris in the East Room, where they presented Biden with a customized Golden Knights jersey with the number 46 and his name on the back.
Biden praised the team for their resilience, teamwork, and community spirit, as well as their contribution to the growth of hockey in Nevada and the Southwest. He also joked about the possibility of Las Vegas luring the Philadelphia Eagles away from his hometown, saying “I’ll get divorced if that happens.”
The Golden Knights players and staff expressed their gratitude and honor for the opportunity to visit the White House, which they described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They also posed for photos with the president and the vice president, as well as the Stanley Cup, which they brought along with them.
A Tough Loss
The next day, the Golden Knights faced the Washington Capitals at the Capital One Arena, in a rematch of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, which the Capitals won in five games. The Golden Knights were hoping to extend their point streak to 13 games, but they were stymied by the Capitals, who defeated them 4-1.
The Capitals scored three goals in the first period, two by Alex Ovechkin and one by Nicklas Backstrom, to take a commanding lead. The Golden Knights responded with a goal by Jonathan Marchessault in the second period, but they could not find the back of the net again. The Capitals sealed the win with an empty-net goal by Tom Wilson in the final minute of the game.
The Golden Knights were outshot 34-25 by the Capitals, who also had the edge in faceoffs, hits, and blocked shots. The Golden Knights goalie, Robin Lehner, made 30 saves, while the Capitals goalie, Ilya Samsonov, made 24 saves.
The Golden Knights coach, Pete DeBoer, said that his team was not sharp enough and that they made too many mistakes against a quality opponent. He also said that the White House visit was not a distraction, but rather a great honor that his team enjoyed.
A Chance to Bounce Back
The Golden Knights will have a chance to bounce back from their loss on Thursday, when they face the New York Rangers at the Madison Square Garden. The Golden Knights are currently second in the Pacific Division, with a record of 12-3-2, while the Rangers are third in the Metropolitan Division, with a record of 10-5-2.
The Golden Knights will also have two more games on their road trip, against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday and the New York Islanders on Sunday. The Golden Knights will then return home to face the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, November 21.
The Golden Knights are still one of the top teams in the NHL, and they have shown their ability to overcome adversity and challenges. They will look to continue their quest for another Stanley Cup, while also cherishing the memories of their White House visit.
