The Stars joined the Golden Knights along their blue line in a gesture of solidarity while the teams observed pregame moments of silence, including one for the victims of Sunday's mass shooting in Las Vegas.
Dallas hosted Vegas for its inaugural regular-season game Friday at American Airlines Arena, but hockey has taken a distant backseat for the NHL's expansion franchise after a man opened fire on a country music festival crowd outside the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Resort along the Strip, indiscriminately killing 58 and injuring hundreds more.
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As part of the ceremony to honor the victims, the Stars, who generally stand opposite their opponent before each game, skated en masse to form ranks behind the Knights on the other side of center ice. The arena held three separate moments of silence, also paying tribute to a Stars staff member killed by a drunk driver over the summer and Dave Strader, the team's Hall of Fame broadcaster who died this week at 62 after a yearlong battle with cancer.
We are all with you, Vegas. Every step of the way. #VegasStrong pic.twitter.com/OVqFXpn7we
— NHL (@NHL) October 7, 2017
The NHL's Kings also were impacted by the Vegas tragedy. Christiana Duarte, a 22-year-old who had recently begun working for the team as a fan service associate, was among those killed in the shooting. The Kings held a memorial in her honor before Thursday's season opener.
The hockey community is united. #VegasStrong pic.twitter.com/R2ENqZcV1r
— NHL (@NHL) October 7, 2017
Earlier this week, the NHL and the Golden Knights announced a joint donation of $300,000 to support victims.
Vegas is planning an additional ceremony to take place before their home opener Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena, which is just blocks from the site of the shooting.
