It is the final game of the four-game homestand for the Vegas Golden Knights who take on an offensively talented Winnipeg Jets team at T-Mobile Arena on Latino Heritage Night.
Following a 5-4 Overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, the Vegas Golden Knights will be hoping to close out this homestand with a big win before hitting the road for a four-game stretch.
Tonight poses a tough test for the Knights, however, who go up against a Winnipeg team that is loaded on firepower and can score at will if given the opportunities.
Although the Jets are currently 7-7-0 on the year, most of their troubles come from a depleted blueline which is almost unrecognizable from the last time these two franchises did battle back on Mar, 21, 2019.
Defensive woes aside, the Jets can light the red lamp for fun and they boast scoring up and down their lineup.
Given that the Knights have struggled getting the puck out of their own zone at times this year, the Jets will no doubt be licking their lips at the prospect of being able to run amok in the offensive zone tonight.
They’ve certainly got the players to be able to wreak havoc and we’ve picked out three offensive juggernauts in particular that the Vegas Golden Knights will need to pay close attention to…
1. Nikolaj Ehlers
To say that the Danish forward has flown out of the traps to start the 2019-20 NHL regular season would be a severe understatement. Nikolaj Ehlers has been arguably the Winnipeg Jets’ best player through 14 games, and he’ll pose a severe threat to the Knights.
With seven goals and seven assists for 14 points through 14 games, Ehlers is playing at the very peak of his powers right now and the 23-year-old has added some real consistency to his game.
Boasting raw speed and a plethora of skill, Ehlers has meshed perfectly on a line with Bryan Little and Jack Roslovic, and that trio has combined for 25 points in 14 games.
Winnipeg have been waiting a while for Ehlers to put it all together and, although we are only a month into this season, it looks as though the wing has finally exploded into life.
2. Patrik Laine
An obvious choice but the Vegas Golden Knights are going to have to make sure that they put the shackles on Patrik Laine.
Following a dollop of controversy during the off-season, Laine has been the model student since signing a two-year, $13,500,000 and is thriving with the added responsibility he has been given by the coaching staff.
Through 14 games, the elite wing has 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) and is expected to be back in the lineup tonight after missing the last two games with a lower-body injury.
Laine boasts one of the deadliest releases in the NHL and he is a threat on the power play, which means that the Vegas blueline can ill-afford to cough up a slew of turnovers.
3. Blake Wheeler
Although he isn’t firing on all cylinders just yet, Blake Wheeler is the heartbeat of this Winnipeg Jets team and there is a reason why he wears the “C” on his chest.
Wheeler drives this team forward and he’s also a big body on the ice, and he has proven time and time again that he isn’t afraid to put his imposing frame to good use.
He also boasts elite playmaking ability and that is backed up by the 71 assists he racked up in 2018-19 – a career-high for the veteran forward.
Wheeler has goals in back-to-back games, including a tuck against the San Jose Sharks last night, and he has eight points in total so far this year.
Able to spot a pass and make a play out of nothing, Wheeler will be one of the most dangerous players on the ice for the Winnipeg Jets tonight and he will punish the Vegas Golden Knights should they play sloppy defense.