Silver Knights Split a Busy Week: Cormier's Two Goals, a First AHL Win, and a Halloween OT Winner

by Ryan Rose

What Happened

Wednesday, Oct. 28: Silver Knights 4, Ontario 1. The week started at home. Henderson beat the Ontario Reign 4-1 at Lee's Family Forum. The team's recap, a video breakdown by Brian McCormack, called Lukas Cormier a "2-Goal Knight." Cormier is a defenseman, so two goals in one night is a big deal for him. The other headline was in net. Pavel Moysevich earned his first win in the American Hockey League. Every goalie remembers that first pro win, and he got his in front of the home crowd.

Friday, Oct. 30: Coachella Valley 5, Silver Knights 1. Two nights later, Henderson went on the road to Acrisure Arena to play the Coachella Valley Firebirds. This one did not go well. The Silver Knights lost 5-1. Cormier scored again, accounting for Henderson's only goal. The team's own recap was honest about the bigger problem. It noted that Henderson had allowed the most goals in the league so far this season.

Saturday, Oct. 31: Silver Knights 3, San Diego 2 (OT). The very next night, Henderson played the San Diego Gulls on Halloween and won 3-2 in overtime. Cameron Whitehead made 34 saves to keep it close and give his team a chance to win it in extra time. The team's recap also pointed to a hot streak for forward Alexander Holtz. Matyas Sapovaliv, the young forward fans call "Super Sapo," had a goal and an assist in the game.

The team's recaps for these games were short video posts. They did not list every goal scorer, the time of the overtime winner, or shot totals for each game. We are only sharing what the team published. For full box scores, check the AHL website or the Silver Knights schedule page.

A quick note on overtime for newer fans. In the AHL, a game tied after three periods goes to a five-minute overtime played three-on-three. With so much open ice, overtime games often end fast on a breakaway or an odd-man rush. If nobody scores, the game goes to a shootout. Henderson got its winner in overtime on Halloween, so there was no shootout needed. Winning in overtime still counts as a full win in the standings, while the losing team picks up one point.

Think about the schedule, too. Henderson played Friday night in the Coachella Valley, then had to be ready Saturday night in San Diego. That is a back-to-back on the road, after a lopsided loss. Bouncing back the next night to win a close game shows some grit. Coaches love to see a team respond like that.

Hockey net on a blue rink with white markings, the kind of crease where Pavel Moysevich earned his first AHL win in Henderson

Why It Matters to Las Vegas Residents

The Silver Knights are Henderson's team. They play their home games at Lee's Family Forum, right in the city. For families on the Henderson and Green Valley side of the valley, that means pro hockey is a short drive away. You do not have to fight Strip traffic or pay NHL prices to see a great game.

The Silver Knights are also the top farm team for the Vegas Golden Knights. That makes the AHL club a preview of the future. Players who do well in Henderson can get called up to Vegas. This week proved the point. Cameron Whitehead was called up to back up Adin Hill when Carter Hart got hurt at the Golden Knights morning skate on Oct. 27. A few days later, Whitehead was back with Henderson making 34 saves in San Diego. That was the night Adin Hill made 25 saves in a 4-1 Golden Knights win over Ottawa.

Goalie depth matters a lot right now. With Hart's status unclear, the Golden Knights may lean on their Henderson goalies more than usual. Moysevich getting his first AHL win and Whitehead stealing a road game are both good signs for the whole organization. If you are a Golden Knights fan, you should care how the Henderson goalies are playing.

The goals-against problem matters too. The team's own recap said Henderson had allowed the most goals in the league. That is not a fun stat, but it is an honest one. It tells fans where the team needs to get better. Winning two of three this week while still working on defense is a good sign. It shows the team can find ways to win close games.

And for local families, there is the simple fun of it. AHL hockey is fast and physical, and the seats are close to the ice. Kids can see future NHL players up close. Many games include promotions, theme nights and chances for kids to meet players or get autographs. For families who live in Henderson, a Silver Knights game can be a short drive, an easy dinner, and home at a reasonable hour on a school night. For many Henderson families, a Silver Knights game is an easy weeknight outing that does not break the budget.

Two hockey players chase the puck during a game, the kind of close play the Silver Knights saw in their Halloween overtime win at San Diego

Background and History

The Silver Knights play in the AHL's Pacific Division, which is full of West Coast teams. That is why this week's road trip was so short. Ontario, Coachella Valley and San Diego are all in Southern California, within a few hours' drive of Henderson. The Ontario Reign are the top affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings. The Coachella Valley Firebirds play at Acrisure Arena near Palm Springs and feed the Seattle Kraken. The San Diego Gulls are the top affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. Many of the players on those teams will one day face the Golden Knights in the NHL.

The AHL schedule is tough. Teams often play two or three games in a few days, sometimes on back-to-back nights in different cities. That puts a premium on goalie depth. A team that has two or three goalies it trusts can rotate them through busy weeks like this one. Henderson used different goalies in its two wins this week, Moysevich at home and Whitehead on the road.

Lukas Cormier's scoring stands out because of his position. Defensemen are mainly there to stop the other team. When a defenseman scores three goals in two games, it usually means he is jumping into the play and shooting more often. For a young player trying to earn a call-up, that kind of offense gets noticed.

The team is coached by Joel Ward, a former NHL forward. His job in Henderson is part winning games and part getting players ready for Vegas. Weeks like this one help with both.

Goalie development is one of the trickiest parts of that job. Goalies often take longer than skaters to reach the NHL. Many spend several seasons in the AHL learning to handle pro shooters, heavy schedules and the pressure of big games. A first AHL win is an early step on that path. A 34-save road win like Whitehead's is the kind of game that builds trust with coaches in both Henderson and Vegas.

It is worth remembering how young the Silver Knights still are as a franchise. The team moved to Henderson in 2020 and spent its early seasons playing at the Orleans Arena before moving into its own building in Henderson. Today it has a home rink, a growing fan base, and a direct pipeline to the Golden Knights just up the freeway.

What Happens Next

The Silver Knights head into November trying to build on a strong finish to October. The biggest thing to watch is goals against. If the team can tighten up on defense, the offense it showed this week, from Cormier to Holtz to Sapovaliv, can win a lot of games. The team's full record was not listed in the recaps we used, so check the AHL standings for where Henderson sits right now.

Also watch the goalie situation. If Carter Hart misses time with the Golden Knights, one of the Henderson goalies may get called up again to serve as Vegas's backup. That would mean more starts for whoever stays in Henderson. It is a good chance for Moysevich and Whitehead to show what they can do.

Keep an eye on the Cormier and Holtz storylines as well. A defenseman who keeps scoring and a forward on a hot streak are exactly the players the Golden Knights watch when they need help up front or on the blue line. Hot streaks in the AHL do not always lead to a call-up right away, but they put a player's name on the list. If either one keeps it going through November, do not be surprised to see his name in a Vegas transaction report.

Finally, watch the standings. The Pacific Division is crowded, and every point counts over a long season. Two wins in a busy week help, especially when one comes on the road the night after a tough loss.

Off the ice, the Silver Knights are hosting a food drive for the CARE Complex on Nov. 6 and 7. It is a great way for fans to give back while they are at the rink. You can read more in Silver Knights Food Drive Nov. 6 and 7. For upcoming home games, see the Henderson Silver Knights 2026-27 Schedule.

Players skate during an ice hockey game, the kind of AHL action Henderson fans can watch at Lee's Family Forum

Ryan's Take

I am a big believer in the Silver Knights as a reason to love living in Henderson. When buyers ask me what there is to do on the Henderson side, I tell them about the parks, the trails, the restaurants, and yes, pro hockey right down the street. Having an AHL team in town gives families an affordable night out and gives the city something to rally around. Lee's Family Forum also brings people into the area on game nights, which is good for nearby businesses.

I also love watching young players grow. A goalie earning his first pro win at home is the kind of moment fans remember when that player shows up in the NHL later. If you live in Henderson, Green Valley, Inspirada or Cadence, you have a front-row seat to the next wave of Golden Knights. That is pretty special for a city that did not have pro hockey at all not that long ago.

What You Can Do

If you have never been to a Silver Knights game, this is a great season to start. Look at the schedule, pick a weekend home game and bring the family. AHL tickets are usually much easier to find than Golden Knights tickets. Get there early so the kids can watch warmups up close.

If you want to follow along from home, the team posts game breakdowns on HendersonSilverKnights.com after most games. AHL games also stream on AHLTV on FloHockey. Following the farm team is the best way to know which players might get the call to Vegas next.

If you take kids to a game, a few tips help. Check the team's promotions calendar for theme nights and giveaways, which are often aimed at families. Bring a sweatshirt, because rinks stay cool even when it is warm outside. And plan for a short drive home, since weeknight games end at a reasonable hour for school nights.

And if being close to the rink is on your wish list, I would be glad to help you look at homes in Henderson and nearby areas. Some families want to be within a few minutes of Lee's Family Forum. Others want to be close to the youth hockey rinks around the valley. Either way, I can help you find a neighborhood that fits.

Living near Lee's Family Forum also puts you close to a lot of what makes Henderson popular with families. There are well-kept parks, miles of trails, and shopping and dining along major roads like Sunset Road and Green Valley Parkway. If you want to compare Henderson neighborhoods side by side, from older parts of Green Valley to newer areas like Cadence and Inspirada, I can walk you through the trade-offs in price, age of homes and commute.

Las Vegas Nevada signage lit up at night, a nod to the hockey fans across the valley who follow the Henderson Silver Knights

Have questions about how this affects your home or neighborhood? Reach out to Ryan Rose or text/call 702-747-5921 anytime. You can also email ryan@rosehomeslv.com or visit rosehomeslv.com. Ryan Rose | Real Broker, LLC | 702-747-5921.