The Avalanche opened the preseason Tuesday with a 5-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Pepsi Center. The defending Western Conference champs scored twice in building a 3-0 lead and cruised. Avs rookie defenseman Ryan Graves, acquired by the New York Rangers for Chris Bigras at February, scored Colorado’s target.

The Avalanche used its most of its core players because it was at home. The majority of kids along with the second-tier players will play in Minnesota on Saturday night.

Three stars:

Erik Brannstrom. Vegas defenseman had a hand at his team’s two goals, with the help and aim.
Paul Stastny. Knights center, a Avs celebrity, had two assists.
Alex Tuch. Vegas forwards had a goal and an assist.

Play at the night: It was the Alex Tuch target that gave the Knights a 3-0 lead late in the next period. Tuch took a back-door pass from Paul Stastny, afterwards Stastny captured the puck out of Oscar Lindberg off the opposite side wall. Stastny, a former Avs standout, nevertheless has a home in Denver and is currently in his first year playing at Vegas after starting each of the last four seasons with the St. Louis Blues.

In web: As scheduled, Varlamov played with the first two phases and Spencer Martin came in to begin the third. Varlamov stopped shots and Martin 4-of-6.

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Rookie see: Defenseman Mason Geertsen took high-sticking along with cross-checking penalties and Vegas scored on both power plays. Geertsen’s match but both of his infractions were also ill-advised. … Forward Logan O’Connor, who was originally pegged to function as captain this year as a senior to the University of Denver, played right wing on a line with center J.T. Compher and left wing Matt Calvert. Even the O’Connor watched a while on the power play a scenario he wasn at at DU. … From the point, defenseman Josh Anderson had some, passes and shots.

Made their situation because of its roll up: O’Connor didn’t hurt his chancesbut just like all kids on entry contracts, then there won’t be opening-night roster spots without accidents to veterans, and at this time the only critical accidents would be to rookie defensemen Conor Timmins and Nicholas Meloche. O’Connor, however, was singled out by coach Jared Bednar following the match for a man who has a chance to make the team.

More to prove: The Avs are taking 55 players also will announce reassignments Wednesday morning, with players going into the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League, Salt Lake of the ECHL or their teams. The players may have Wednesday off before returning to training Thursday.

Last thought: The Avs’ MGM Line — center Nathan MacKinnon and also wingers Gabe Landeskog along with Mikko Rantanen — had only five shots. … But the superstar forwards had their chances and won’t be divided up if ever this year.