Golden Knights Host Anaheim Ducks for 9th Island Knight at T-Mobile Arena; Alec Martinez Debuts on Scripps Sports Desk

LAS VEGAS, NV — The Vegas Golden Knights return to home ice at T-Mobile Arena on Friday evening to take on the Anaheim Ducks, pairing Pacific Division competition with Southern Nevada’s annual celebration of 9th Island Knight.

The matchup—broadcast across the region on Scripps Sports (The Spot Vegas-34) and streamed via KnightTime+—follows an electric 5–2 season-opening victory over Chicago earlier in the week.

Beyond divisional standings, Friday’s tilt highlights Southern Nevada’s cultural connection to Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Islander community while showcasing the franchise’s newly unveiled 2026–27 television and radio broadcast lineup.

Celebrating the 9th Island and Early-Season Momentum

Known colloquially as the “Ninth Island” due to decades of migration, tourism, and shared cultural roots between Honolulu and Clark County, Las Vegas embraces its Pacific Islander community as a core pillar of its sporting identity.

Pregame festivities along Toshiba Plaza and inside the arena concourse feature traditional Polynesian musical performances, authentic island cuisine, and specialty warm-up jerseys designed to honor the Pacific heritage.

On the ice, the Golden Knights enter the contest looking to build upon their opening night execution.

Jack Eichel paced the offense in Tuesday’s opener, becoming just the third player in NHL history to record three or more points in three consecutive season-opening contests.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old rookie forward Trevor Connelly generated buzz across the league after finding the back of the net in his NHL debut against Chicago, becoming the second-youngest player in franchise history to score in his initial appearance.

“Our group established a high pace on Tuesday, but the test now is consistency,” head coach Bruce Cassidy stated following morning skate. “Anaheim is young, fast, and plays an aggressive forecheck. We have to manage the puck cleanly through the neutral zone and establish our cycle game early.”

Alec Martinez Joins Expanded Broadcast Desk

Friday’s broadcast also marks the debut of a fan favorite in a new media role.

Three-time Stanley Cup champion and former Golden Knights defenseman Alec Martinez joins the Scripps Sports broadcast team for the 2026–27 campaign.

Martinez will serve as a regular in-studio and post-game analyst alongside Darren Eliot, Gary Lawless, and Studio 31 host Jamie Hersch.

Goucher and Hnidy anchor the television booth for their tenth year together, providing play-by-play coverage across 69 regional games on The Spot Vegas-34 and the team’s direct-to-consumer streaming platform, KnightTime+.

Following tonight’s tilt against the Ducks, the Golden Knights will hit the road for an early-season Pacific Division road trip next week.

Source: Vegas Golden Knights Official Morning Skate Disclosures, NHL Public Relations Game Notes, Scripps Sports Regional Media Distribution.

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