Vegas Golden Knights Vs. Canes Storylines: Fleury on the naughty step

Hockey is back! The Vegas Golden Knights return from their bye week today to take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the fifth game of this eight-game road trip.

It has been a while since the Vegas Golden Knights hit a puck in competitive anger, Jan. 21, to be precise, and we will see how refreshed they are at PNC Arena later.

Currently 1-2-1 on this road trip and having dropped two straight, the Knights are starting to approach desperation time as they bid to establish their identity and become the team we all thought they were.

They face a rude awakening following a week or so off, though, given that the Hurricanes are a team loaded with young talent who are also battling for a playoff berth.

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As such, this is going to be a litmus test for Vegas Head Coach Peter DeBoer who will no doubt have tried to implement some of his systems during the bye week, and he will want to see his players buy into his way of doing things sooner rather than later.

On that note, let’s delve into some storylines to keep an eye on during today’s showdown between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes…

Storyline 1 – Fleury on the naughty step

Marc-Andre Fleury has been a naughty boy.

Well, not really, he just decided to skip the 2020 NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis in order to recharge his batteries.

However, as per NHL rules, you have to serve a one-game suspension for opting out the festivities and Fleury will sit today’s game out.

It is frustrating for the Golden Knights who would have wanted their future Hall of Famer in the pipes, but Malcolm Subban will get the start with Oscar Dansk backing up after being recalled from the Chicago Wolves.

RALEIGH, NC – FEBRUARY 01: Carolina Hurricanes Left Wing Micheal Ferland (79) and Vegas Golden Knights Defenceman Brayden McNabb (3) battle for a loose puck during a game between the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes on February 1, 2019, at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Storyline 2 – Will lightning strike twice?

If the Vegas Golden Knights are looking for a good omen ahead of today’s game, there isn’t one I’m afraid.

Instead, go back to this time last year when, fresh off the bye week, the Golden Knights went to PNC Arena only to be spanked 5-2 by the Carolina Hurricanes.

It is the same situation this time around with Vegas coming off a long bye week, and they will be hoping to avoid another horror show at the same scene of the crime.

And today’s game is important in that the Knights can really set a tone for the rest of the regular season by coming out strong and turning the page on what was a severely disappointing first-half.

BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 21: Vegas Golden Knights head coach Pete DeBoer talks with his players during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Vegas Golden Knights on January 21, 2020, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Storyline 3 – DeBoer’s hard work

After using his first three games as Head Coach of the Vegas Golden Knights to evaluate his team, Peter DeBoer would have had chance to work on systems while implementing his non-negotiables over the bye week.

He also welcomed a new member of the coaching staff in Steve Spott who was hired as assistant coach, with the two having worked together for the majority of their careers.

Although he didn’t have access to his players, DeBoer would no doubt have trawled through hours of tape and worked on certain things with his coaching staff, and we could see some different systems at play tonight.

BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 21: Boston Bruins center David Krejci (46) scores the game-winning goal in the third period, leading Boston to a 3-2 victory. The Boston Bruins host the Vegas Golden Knights in an NHL regular season hockey game at TD Garden in Boston on Jan. 21, 2020. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

Storyline 4 – Road Trip woes

This eight-game road trip hasn’t been kind to the Vegas Golden Knights so far.

Having dropped two straight prior to the All-Star Break, the Knights are 1-2-1 on this road trip so far and they are in need of a big win.

Today would be the perfect opportunity to get that given that they face the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers next week, the start of what is a hellish slate in February.

The Knights are 11-10-4 on the road and that record will need to improve if Vegas wishes to claim top spot in the Pacific Division.

COLUMBUS, OH – JANUARY 16: Erik Haula #56 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 16, 2020 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Storyline 5 – Haula reunion

This will be the first time that the Vegas Golden Knights will face Erik Haula since he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in the off-season.

Haula recorded 62 points (31 goals, 31 assists) in 91 regular season games for the Golden Knights, and he was a key cog in the team that made a stunning run to the Stanley Cup Final in the franchise’s inaugural year.

And Vegas’ loss has been Carolina’s gain with the forward registering 19 points (11 goals, eight assists) in 30 games, despite missing a chunk of the year because of injury.

Haula was also a healthy scratch in the Canes’ final game before the All-Star Break after going nine straight games without a goal.

That means that Haula will be motivated today and he will be extra motivated given that he will be going up against the team who traded him away.

Next. Rejoice! Hockey is back!. dark

We all know the talent Haula possesses and the Knights will have to try and put the shackles on their former forward if he’s back in the lineup.

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