Vegas Golden Knights look the real deal already
We are only two games into the 2019-20 NHL regular season but the Vegas Golden Knights look like they mean business this year.
Although it is far too early to jump aboard the hype train because, after all, there are still 80 NHL regular season games left to play, the Vegas Golden Knights entered 2019-20 with high expectations and they look the real deal.
They have beaten up on the San Jose Sharks in consecutive games, outscoring their opponents 9-2, killing off all ten power plays they have faced and just dominating in every single aspect.
It has been impressive and, although there is still a lot of hockey to be played, this Knights roster as it is currently constituted looks well equipped to wreak some serious damage this year.
Marc-Andre Fleury has shown through two games that he’s still the same Marc-Andre Fleury we know and love with a combined total of 55 saves from 57 shots, while the blueline has been solid even after losing Nate Schmidt in the season opener.
The Knights have also got depth scoring from their bottom six, particularly in the 5-1 win against the Sharks on Friday with Tomas Nosek leading the way with a three-point night, while William Carrier, Brandon Pirri and Valentin Zykov all recorded a point.
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And there have been contributions from that formidable and top six forward unit, too, with Mark Stone recording four points (one goal, three assists) in two games while Reilly Smith and William Karlsson each have three points.
Jonathan Marchessault, Max Pacioretty and Cody Glass each have a point and the latter adds a completely dimension to that second line with his elite playmaking ability and vision to see the open ice.
And the good news? We are only two games in which means that this team is only going to get better with the more games they play. That is scary for the rest of the NHL.
It appears that the coaching staff and the players have learned from their lesson last year when they endured a slow and slumping start to 2018-19, thus losing ground in both the Pacific Division and the Western Conference.
However, they’ve avoided that mistake so far in 2019-20 by flying out of the traps and if they can successfully navigate a tough October schedule, then they will be in good shape heading into the meaty part of the NHL regular season slate.
There will be tough tests ahead, starting with tonight’s home matchup against the 2-0-0 Boston Bruins, before the Calgary Flames visit T-Mobile Arena on Saturday and the Knights will also have to pit their wits against the likes of the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Colorado Avalanche before the month is out.
But, Vegas are loaded with an abundance of talent, grit and strong character players in the locker room and they appear driven by the heartbreaking fashion in which their 2018-19 season ended in the playoffs.
They are playing with a chip on their shoulder and a real edge, displaying a ruthless and clinical instinct in the way they beat up on the Sharks in the opening two games of the year.
And, all of that has been without forwards Alex Tuch and Cody Eakin and defenseman Nate Schmidt who are all currently on the IR. They are key players for this franchise and it will be a huge plus for the Knights once the trio return.
There are question marks hovering over this roster, naturally, mainly on the blueline and if the bottom six can provide secondary scoring for the duration of 2019-20. But, the positives far outweigh the negatives through two games and arguably the brightest spot has been the Knights’ penalty kill, which is perfect in the opening two games while also scoring three shorthanded goals.
Next. Main takeaways from another win against the Sharks. dark
This roster’s core is as good as it gets in the NHL and they seem more determined and driven than ever to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup this year. They have made a positive start and they have all the ingredients needed to emerge as the best team in the Western Conference before embarking on a deep postseason run.
So, while there is a hell of a lot of hockey still to play, the Vegas Golden Knights already look the real deal and 2019-20 could turn out to be a historic year in Sin City for this third-year expansion team.