Vegas Golden Knights feel the heat ahead of a crucial back-to-back

This is a crucial stretch of the NHL regular-season for all contenders, and the Vegas Golden Knights face a couple of defining days.

After suffering a horrific shutout loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, the Vegas Golden Knights have given themselves little margin for error down the stretch.

Not only that, but by putting up a stinker to the Jets, the Golden Knights have also heaped more pressure on themselves ahead of what is arguably the most important back-to-back of the year.

In a matter of a couple of hours the Knights will faceoff against the Calgary Flames, before flying to Edmonton for a mouthwatering showdown with the Oilers on Monday.

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Both games are Pacific Division showdowns and both games carry huge importance for all three teams involved.

For starters, the Flames are third in the Pacific and just three points behind the Golden Knights which makes tonight’s game at the Scotiabank Saddledome a must-win for both teams.

If Vegas can get the W then that would start to put some breathing space between them and the Flames, while Calgary would cut the gap to just one point if they can secure a huge win tonight.

Then, after what is sure to be a real battle in Calgary, the Golden Knights will have to quickly get ready for the Oilers who are currently atop the Pacific.

Both the Knights and the Oilers currently have the same amount of points and whoever comes out on top on Monday will have the mental edge with the two teams set to meet once more in the regular season.

These two games carry gigantic significance and whatever happens today and tomorrow will have a huge impact on where the Golden Knights finish in the division.

Granted, a playoff spot and a division title won’t be won or lost tonight or tomorrow, but we are at the point of the regular season where mistakes could prove costly.

Plus, the Golden Knights, who are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games, have a real opportunity to send out a real statement and set the tone by conquering both the Flames and the Oilers in back-to-back games.

Two wins would give the Knights a real mental edge for the remainder of the regular season, where they still have six divisional matchups to navigate.

There is no doubt that these next two games are absolutely colossal for the Golden Knights who, despite having found their groove recently, still have flaws to their game.

Most notably, Vegas still struggle to come flying out of the traps in games and they have allowed the first goal on the first shot in three of their last four outings.

That isn’t going to get the job done in the postseason where games are tighter and the opposition are elite, and it is a concerning bugaboo that the coaching staff will need to try and correct, and quick.

Again, while all won’t be lost if the worst was to take place over the next two days, there is no downplaying the importance of this crucial back-to-back for the Vegas Golden Knights, who have put the pressure on themselves to deliver when it really matters the most.