No Stanley Cup Hangover for this year’s Golden Knights. They have started the new campaign off red hot, 6-0, and first in the Pacific division. They are second in the league if goals for and sixth in the league in goals against. The due of Adin Hill and Logan Thompson have been superb so far, sporting 93.4 (Hill) and a 93.5% save percentage in the early going. Hill has seen the bulk of the starts so far, four of the six, with Thompson getting the other two games. The Knights are averaging over four goals a game while only allowing 1.8 goals a game.
While both Hill and Thompson have been stellar in net, Jack Eichel has been terrific to start the young season with three goals and three assists. People might forget that Jack was the 2nd overall pick behind Connor McDavid in the 2015 entry draft. Eichel is only one piece to the offensive depth for this Vegas team. Chandler Stephenson leads the team in points with seven, two goals, and five assists. Bottom six center Nick Roy has four points, three goals, and one helper. This Knights team is extremely depth in the forward group. It’s a tough task for any team to try and come into T-Mobile stadium and try and stop all four of their lines. Jonathan Marchessault, Mark Stone, and William Karlsson add to the firepower for this forward group.
The Knights have controlled the puck early and often while on even strength. Nick Roy 59.7% and William Karlsson 56.1 Corsi for controlling the puck during their time on the ice, which is above the likes of Eichel, who so far has a 54.4% Corsi. While the forward group is strong, the blue line is just as difficult to match up with. The likes of Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, Nick Hague, the currently Injured Alex Pietrangelo, and Zach Whitecloud make life miserable for opposing teams.
With Wins over Seattle, San Jose, Anaheim, Dallas, Winnipeg, and Chicago to start this young season, it has me wondering if 10-0 possible??? The next four games are home vs. Flyers, Home vs Blackhawks, Away vs Kings, and home vs the Canadiens. If they can get through Carter Hart and the rest of the Flyers, they will walk into Staples Center 8-0. This is where I can see things getting tough for the Knights vs a tough divisional rival. I think Aiden Hill will be lined up to be in net for the Knights, but ultimately, I think the LA Kings will be fired up and will give the Knights their first loss of the season. Quinton Byfield, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Anze Kopitar, and Drew Doughty will have the rest of the Knight flying around in a game I anticipate being a very physical game and most likely will be won by the team who has the better night on special teams. I think the Kings won 4-3 with a late goal in the 3rd period.
Regardless of how the next four games turn out, Bruce Cassidy should lead this team towards another deep playoff run in 2024!!
ITR 49: For Real This Time – Inside The Rink
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