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Vegas Golden Knights Vs. Philadelphia Flyers storylines

By Andrew Steele-Davis

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 21: Sean Couturier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates the puck against Paul Stastny #26 of the Vegas Golden Knights on October 21, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 21: Sean Couturier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates the puck against Paul Stastny #26 of the Vegas Golden Knights on October 21, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Happy New Year! The Vegas Golden Knights open 2020 and the new Decade at T-Mobile Arena against the Philadelphia Flyers tonight (7:00 p.m. PT).

After closing out 2019 with two straight wins, the Vegas Golden Knights will be looking to open the new Decade with a win by beating the gritty Flyers.

It won’t be easy by any stretch of the imagination and we’ve taken a look at some storylines that will be worth keeping an eye on…

Storyline 1 – Opening 2020 right

This is the first game of the year and the new Decade for the Vegas Golden Knights, and they will be hoping to start as they mean to go on by racking up a third consecutive win.

It won’t be easy given that the Flyers (22-13-5) are on course for the postseason, but the Knights are on home ice and they will be determined to put on a show at T-Mobile Arena in the first game of the year.

Plus, with the Pacific Division lead in their possession, the Golden Knights have the opportunity to really put some distance between them and the rest of the division.

DALLAS, TX – DECEMBER 13: Gerard Gallant of the Vegas Golden Knights watches the action from the bench against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on December 13, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – DECEMBER 13: Gerard Gallant of the Vegas Golden Knights watches the action from the bench against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on December 13, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Storyline 2 – Gallant the All-Star

Gerard Gallant has done a fine job as Head Coach of the Vegas Golden Knights and he’s masterminding another successful year from behind the bench.

And, should the Knights win later, then Gallant will be confirmed as the Head Coach of the Pacific Division at the 2020 All-Star Game in St. Louis.

Decided by points percentage, Gallant just needs his team to go out and do the business to make sure he joins Marc-Andre Fleury at the festivities later this month.

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Philadelphia Flyers celebrate a goal during the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on December 31, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Philadelphia Flyers celebrate a goal during the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on December 31, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Storyline 3 – Battle of depth

As has been the case all year long, the Vegas Golden Knights have really struggled to generate secondary scoring and it remains to be seen whether they will try to address it prior to the Trade Deadline.

For now, the Golden Knights are being carried by some of their big guns but you can’t be a legitimate contender without getting contributions from up and down your lineup.

The Flyers, on the other hand, get production from up and down their lineup with nine players having recorded 15 or more points.

Their defense also contributes having tallied six goals and 13 points in their last six games, while their blueline led the NHL in the month of December with 12 goals in 13 games.

Storyline 4 – Special Teams battle

The Philadelphia Flyers come into tonight’s contest with a red hot power play which has scored at least a goal in five of their last six contests, operating at a 29.1% clip.

The Flyers’ power play is ranked 14th overall (19.9), while they have the 12th best penalty kill in the league (81.6).

Vegas on the other hand, have been superb on special teams for much of the year and they have the 10th best power play in the NHL with a 21.9% success rate.

Their penalty kill has also been operating at a high level and it ranks eighth in the league, killing off power plays at a 82.3 clip.

So, it is fair to say that whoever can execute on special teams tonight will probably come out on top given that these two teams are evenly matched.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 23: Kevin Hayes #13 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates a third period goal with teammates on the bench against the New York Rangers on December 23, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 23: Kevin Hayes #13 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates a third period goal with teammates on the bench against the New York Rangers on December 23, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Storyline 5 – Bucking a trend

Want to know something?

The Vegas Golden Knights do not have a good record against the Philadelphia Flyers in Sin City.

The Flyers have won their previous two visits to Vegas, outscoring the Knights 9-3 in the process, including a 6-2 win on Oct. 21.

Sean Couturier and Kevin Hayes are among four Flyers with five points each against the Knights, and they will look to continue their streaks against Vegas tonight.

Next. Three New Year's resolutions. dark

For the Golden Knights, they will be looking to end their barren streak against Philadelphia in their own barn by putting on a strong showing and getting the new Decade off to a winning start.

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