Vegas Golden Knights: Sizing up potential opponents in 24-team Playoff format
It looks like the Vegas Golden Knights can start doing their homework on postseason opponents.
The NHLPA has voted yes on a 24-team Playoff format, which would see the Vegas Golden Knights given a bye as a top seed.
While they contest a three-game, in-conference tournament against other top seeds, 16 other teams will battle it out in Play-In games.
The winners of those Play-In games will advance through to the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the Golden Knights set to take on either the Nashville Predators or the Arizona Coyotes.
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A straightforward look at the 2019-20 season for both the Predators and the Coyotes would suggest an easy matchup for the Knights, but don’t be easily fooled.
After all, both teams boast star power and whoever comes out on top in that Play-In will be entering the postseason riding plenty of momentum.
So, in a nutshell, the Golden Knights won’t have it all their own way in a best-of-seven series against either the Preds or the Coyotes.
Granted, if the NHL decides to reseed the Playoffs after the Play-In games then Vegas could end up pitting their wits against somebody else but, for the purpose of this article, we’ll go on the assumption that the Golden Knights will take on either Nashville or Arizona.
We’re going to delve into both teams, look at their strengths and weaknesses and work out where the series could be won or lost for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Let’s delve right in, shall we…