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Vegas Golden Knights: Main takeaways from win over LA Kings

By Andrew Steele-Davis

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings races for the puck against William Carrier #28 and Tomas Nosek #92 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of the game at STAPLES Center on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings races for the puck against William Carrier #28 and Tomas Nosek #92 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of the game at STAPLES Center on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 13: Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights and Tyler Toffoli #73 of the Los Angeles Kings battle for position during the third period of the game at STAPLES Center on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 13: Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights and Tyler Toffoli #73 of the Los Angeles Kings battle for position during the third period of the game at STAPLES Center on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images) /

3. Top Two Lines are rolling

There was a school of thought prior to the year revolving around whether or not we would see a return to dominance for Vegas’ top line.

Well, that question has been answered already and emphatically so.

Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith have been outstanding so far in 2019-20 and they are contributing in big ways.

For starters, Karlsson has racked up six points with six assists in six games while Smith has been lethal in front of goal with four goals and five points.

Marchessault only has three points (one goal, two assists) but he’s a played a huge role in his linemates enjoying a fruitful start to the year.

That line had an even-strength expected goals percentage of 97.43 against the LA Kings, while they all sit inside the top six NHL players when it comes to even strength expected goals for percentage with a minimum of 50 minutes of total ice time (stats credit: Jesse Granger of The Athletic).

And then you have the second line. Mark Stone has been red hot to start the year and he leads the Golden Knights in points with nine (four goals, five assists).

Max Pacioretty is right behind him with two goals and six assists for eight points, while Paul Stastny had himself a hell of a night on Sunday.

Back on the second line between Pacioretty and Stone, Stastny recorded a four-point night with two goals and two assists, with three of those points coming on the power play.

Next. 3 Takeaways from the win against the Flames. dark

He now has five points (three goals, two assists) this year and that in itself is interesting when you consider that Stastny didn’t have a single point to his name until he was bumped back up to the second line two games ago.

Most contenders have one elite line but the Golden Knights can boast two at their disposal and they had themselves a night against the LA Kings.

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