Vegas Golden Knights: Three keys to taking down red hot Stars
The last thing you want when you are struggling is to go to a red hot team, but that’s what awaits the Vegas Golden Knights in Dallas this evening.
Having gone 2-5-1 in their last eight games, the Vegas Golden Knights will try to snap a two-game losing streak by beating a red hot Dallas Stars team who are 10-0-1 overall and 9-0-1 in November.
Dallas is also chasing a seventh consecutive victory which would tie a Stars/Minnesota North Stars Franchise record.
So, all in all, the Golden Knights are going to have their work cut out for them later if they are to start this brief two-game road trip on a winning note.
The Knights have got away from the fundamentals that have made them a very good hockey team over the past two-and-a-bit years, and they are what their record says right now.
They are struggling to finish the plethora of chances they create, they play sloppy defense, they give up a glut of odd-man rushes and, as was the case against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, the Knights failed to compete and there was a worrying lack of battle from the team.
There is a lot of work to be done for the Golden Knights if they are to capture the success they want this year, and there is going to be a lot of work ahead tonight.
So, on that note, let’s go through our three keys to the matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars…
1. Come Out Hard
The Vegas Golden Knights were guilty of not being ready to play against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, and they were punished immediately by Connor McDavid.
That can’t happen tonight.
Because, if it does, then the Knights will face a tough night at the office because of the caliber of the team they are going up against.
Let’s face it, after adding high-end veterans Corey Perry and Joe Pavelski during the off-season, the Stars were always expected to be a contender this year.
And, despite a horrific slow start, they are starting to show their true colors now and are absolutely tearing up the NHL.
They are chasing a seventh consecutive victory which would tie a franchise record, so the Stars are going to be highly motivated.
As a result, the Golden Knights need to learn from the mistakes made against the Oilers and they have to come out at Dallas with a real edge from the very first drop of the puck.
The Knights have scored the most first period goals (30) in the NHL while the Stars have allowed the fewest (15) in the first, so the opening 20 minutes will be a real battle and should set the tone for the remainder of the game.
If Vegas can take an early lead against the Dallas Stars then that could give them the confidence to go on and dominate the rest of the contest.
2. Dominate Special Teams
Okay, so this is an obvious point because we all know special teams are crucial to any team winning a hockey game.
But this especially stands true tonight.
That is because the Vegas Golden Knights have the 8th best power play in the NHL with a percentage of 22.8, and they have converted on the man advantage on three occasions in the last five games.
They also have one of the best penalty kill units in the league with a percentage of 85.9, and that is ranked 4th in the NHL.
Dallas, on the other hand, struggle on the power play with a bad 12.8 percentage, although they do have the 7th best PK in the league (85.0).
So, if the Golden Knights get an opportunity on the power play that could be their best chance of winning the game, although they are going to have to execute the man advantage perfectly in order to break down Dallas’ penalty killers.
And, if Dallas goes on the man advantage then the Knights will need to do what they’ve done all year so far and not give an inch.
Vegas also lead the NHL in shorthanded goals with five, and winning the special teams battle could be the best path to taking home the W for the Knights.
3. Put the shackles on Dallas’ big guns
The Dallas Stars boast a plethora of studs in their lineup and they have the offensive firepower to blitz teams.
They have a Stanley Cup contending roster and Tyler Seguin leads the club in points with 19 (six goals, 13 assists).
Captain Jamie Benn is starting to hot up with five goals and eight assists for 13 points, while both Joe Pavelski and Alexander Radulov have 12 points.
However, it is a pair of young guns that the Vegas Golden Knights will really have to watch throughout the game this evening.
Roope Hintz, despite having his season disrupted by injury, has 10 goals and two assists for 12 points in 17 games, while he’s expected to center a top line between Benn and Seguin against the Knights.
And then there is elite defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who is putting together one hell of a sophomore year in the NHL.
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Through 24 games Heiskanen has 17 points (six goals, 11 assists), while he logs monster minutes and plays a huge role on the power play.
If the Vegas Golden Knights can put the shackles on those group of players then they will stand a great chance of coming out on top.
If not, then, well it could be a long night in Dallas.