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Vegas Golden Knights Vs. Montreal Canadiens Storylines

By Andrew Steele-Davis

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 31: Max Pacioretty #67 of the Vegas Golden Knights takes a shot against Victor Mete #53 of the Montreal Canadiens in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on October 31, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Canadiens defeated the Golden Knights 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 31: Max Pacioretty #67 of the Vegas Golden Knights takes a shot against Victor Mete #53 of the Montreal Canadiens in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on October 31, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Canadiens defeated the Golden Knights 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The road trip continues as the Vegas Golden Knights look to pile on the misery against the Montreal Canadiens today.

After beating the Ottawa Senators on Thursday to give new Head Coach Peter DeBoer his first win, the Vegas Golden Knights will now look to build some momentum before the All-Star Break by beating a Canadiens team that is bereft of form right now.

They have gone just 3-6-1 in their last 10 outings and are sixth in the Atlantic Division with 49 points in 49 games.

Montreal did blowout the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, with Ilya Kovalchuk having found a new lease of life with the Canadiens.

On that note, let’s delve into some of the storylines that will be worth keeping an eye on throughout today’s showdown…

OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 16: Head coach Peter DeBoer of the Vegas Golden Knights looks on from behind the bench during an NHL game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on January 16, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 16: Head coach Peter DeBoer of the Vegas Golden Knights looks on from behind the bench during an NHL game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on January 16, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Storyline 1 – New Coach, New ways

Although new Head Coach Peter DeBoer is being careful to slowly implement his non-negotiables and preferred systems, his fingerprints can already be seen on this team.

Just look at the victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. The Knights were much more aggressive, while pretty much every player had shorter shifts.

Those two go hand-in-hand, of course, given that the more energy you have from shorter shifts then the more you will step on the gas in the latter stages of the game.

And I have a funny feeling that DeBoer will begin to enforce his way of doing things a lot more during today’s game in Montreal.

After all, he has spoken of those players in the locker room being intelligent and therefore being capable of taking information on board.

So, don’t be surprised if we see some tweaks in the systems used by the Golden Knights today against the Canadiens.

OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 16: Craig Anderson #41 and Colin White #36 of the Ottawa Senators defend their net on a scoring chance by Alex Tuch #89 of the Vegas Golden Knights at Canadian Tire Centre on January 16, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 16: Craig Anderson #41 and Colin White #36 of the Ottawa Senators defend their net on a scoring chance by Alex Tuch #89 of the Vegas Golden Knights at Canadian Tire Centre on January 16, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Storyline 2 – Don’t fix what isn’t broken

After masterminding a win in his debut as Head Coach of the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, Peter DeBoer will stick with the same lineup for today’s showdown with the Montreal Canadiens.

Marc-Andre Fleury, who was excellent against Ottawa, will go in goal while Chandler Stephenson will get another chance to shine on the top line with William Karlsson week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Carey Price will go in goal for the Canadiens and the elite goalie is starting to hot up, while he owns a record of 19-16-4 this year with a 2.82 Goals Against Average and a .909 Save Percentage.

OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 16: Vegas Golden Knights Left Wing Max Pacioretty (67) stickhandles the puck during the third period of the NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the Vegas Golden Knights on January 16, 2020 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 16: Vegas Golden Knights Left Wing Max Pacioretty (67) stickhandles the puck during the third period of the NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the Vegas Golden Knights on January 16, 2020 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Storyline 3 – Return of the Patch

Max Pacioretty has been back to Montreal since he left but it is sure to still be an emotional night for the All-Star.

After all, Pacioretty wore the coveted “C” on that famous Canadiens jersey for three seasons, while he recorded 448 points (226 goals, 222 assists) in 626 regular season games for Montreal.

So, there is no doubt that today’s game will hold extra special meaning for Pacioretty, who leads the Vegas Golden Knights in points with 46 (20 goals, 26 assists) through 50 games.

MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 15: Look on Montreal Canadiens left wing Tomas Tatar (90) during the Chicago Blackhawks versus the Montreal Canadiens game on January 15, 2020, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 15: Look on Montreal Canadiens left wing Tomas Tatar (90) during the Chicago Blackhawks versus the Montreal Canadiens game on January 15, 2020, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Storyline 4 – Red Hot Tatar

Tomas Tatar‘s time in Vegas was brief, and it was hardly laden with success given that he registered just six points (four goals, two assists) in 20 regular season games before being a non-factor in the playoffs.

However, Tatar has really found his game in Montreal and the forward has truly exploded into life this year.

Through 49 games, the wing leads the Canadiens in points with 43 (17 goals, 26 assists), with 11 points coming on the power play.

Tatar is a scorer while he can create goals and he will pose a huge threat to the Golden Knights throughout today’s contest.

MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 13: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Calgary Flames in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on January 13, 2020 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 13: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Calgary Flames in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on January 13, 2020 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Storyline 5 – Revenge of the Chuk

Speaking of players in a rich vein of form, what a turnaround this has been for Russian sniper Ilya Kovalchuk.

Following what was a disastrous and unsuccessful stint with the LA Kings, Kovalchuk was effectively given a prove-it deal by the Montreal Canadiens.

Boy, is the veteran doing just that.

Through seven games, Kovalchuk has seven points (three goals, four assists) and he has been a revelation.

Although now 36-years-old, the forward can still produce offense and the Golden Knights will have to try and put the shackles on him tonight.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 16: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers faces off with Max Domi #13 of the Montreal Canadiens on January 16, 2020 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Canadiens went on to defeat the Flyers 4-1. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 16: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers faces off with Max Domi #13 of the Montreal Canadiens on January 16, 2020 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Canadiens went on to defeat the Flyers 4-1. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Storyline 6 – Plenty on the line

This is a big game for both teams with plenty on the line as we rapidly approach the Trade Deadline.

For the Vegas Golden Knights, tonight presents the opportunity to win consecutive games while continuing to establish an identity under new Head Coach Peter DeBoer.

For the Montreal Canadiens, the pressure is firmly on one of the most prestigious franchises in all of major sports, and they need to determine whether they will be buyers or sellers at the Trade Deadline.

dark. Next. Takeaways from DeBoer's first media briefing

As such, both teams will need to get off to a fast start tonight and look to land the first blow in what should be a mouthwatering contest.

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