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Ilya Samsonov makes 22 saves and earns win in debut for Golden Knights
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Ilya Samsonov makes 22 saves and earns win in debut for Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS — With the game tied at 1-1 early in the second period, Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras skated alone down the right side of the slot with the intention of doing what he’s done to so many: score a goal to give the Ducks a goal deliver -goal lead and momentum on the road.

Ilya Samsonov had nothing that Sunday evening.

The veteran netminder turned away 22 shots in his Vegas debut — including Zegras’ effort — as the Golden Knights defeated the Ducks 3-1.

“Great opportunity, not an easy match because I’m not playing in a few weeks,” said Samsonov. “Huge fans, huge atmosphere here, as I said before. I feel great. We won the game.”

Samsonov said he was happy to be part of the home team in Vegas after losing his only two visits to T-Mobile Arena, once with Washington and one with Toronto.

“I think it has the best atmosphere in the competition,” Samsonov said. “So happy to be here, so happy to play with these guys, this locker room and still enjoying every day.”

“I don’t think he was too busy, but there were still saves to be made by good shooters on their team,” Cassidy said. “I thought he held his post well on the angle shots that you see every night in the league. … Everyone is shooting shots like that now, so you have to be sharp 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 past two seasons in Toronto with the Maple Leafs, where he posted 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 they have opened the season undefeated after three games.