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Three reasons why the Vegas Golden Knights will win in 2019-20

By Andrew Steele-Davis

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 27: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after a goal by teammate Brayden McNabb #3 during the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on September 27, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 27: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after a goal by teammate Brayden McNabb #3 during the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on September 27, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 27: Max Pacioretty #67 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates third period against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on September 27, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 27: Max Pacioretty #67 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates third period against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on September 27, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images) /

1. Special Teams

The Vegas Golden Knights were average at best when it came to their Special Teams in 2018-19, ranking 14th on the penalty kill (80.9 percent) and a lowly 25th on the power play (16.8 percent). It goes without saying that both units will need to drastically improve if their dreams of winning the Stanley Cup are to come true.

And there is genuine hope that both the power play and the penalty kill will be a lot better for the Golden Knights this year.

Let’s start with the penalty kill. The Knights already have one effective unit featuring William Karlsson and Reilly Smith, a lethal combination that leads to a shorthanded chance almost every time they are on the ice. And they looked sharp together during the preseason when on the PK, so that unit should be firing on all cylinders from the very first drop of the puck once the regular season gets underway.

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There could be another dangerous penalty kill unit this year, too, after Vegas Head Coach Gerard Gallant opted to experiment by putting both William Carrier and Alex Tuch on the PK. Both players took to their new roles extremely well, with both players perfectly suited to playing shorthanded due to their raw speed and ability to bring the pressure on the forecheck and battle hard in the corners.

Tuch in particularly looks ideal to put on the penalty kill due to his extraordinary long reach and his deadly release. If you pair him with Carrier then that could give the Golden Knights a deadly one-two punch when it comes to the penalty kill in 2019-20.

Then you have the power play. As already mentioned, the Knights were below average on the man advantage last year and that will have to change this season if they are to enjoy a successful regular season and then go on a deep postseason run.

And it isn’t like they will be short on weapons this year. The Golden Knights will be able to roll out two units featuring the likes of Alex Tuch, Mark Stone, Reilly Smith, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, Max Pacioretty and not to mention Shea Theodore or Nate Schmidt firing rockets from the point.

Put simply, Vegas will have a tonne of weapons in which to employ on the man advantage this year and that should translate to a much more lethal and potent power play in 2019-20. Special Teams will be crucial for the Golden Knights throughout the season and they have everything in place to ensure that both the power play and the penalty kill are in the upper echelons of the NHL.

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