Forecasting the Golden Knights October schedule
The month of October marks a brand new season in the National Hockey League and the schedule gives the Golden Knights plenty of intriguing match ups. Breaking it all down, the Golden Knights have 10 scheduled games in the month of October. Four of the 10 games will take place within the division and only one game comes against the Eastern Conference. Getting off to a great start will be a crucial need for a franchise that will be turning to the coaching of Bruce Cassidy.
Against the teams that the Golden Knights are facing, they are 12-2-0 against them historically in the month of October alone. Making their first October appearances against Vegas, are the Winnipeg Jets (twice) and Toronto Maple Leafs, with all three of those games coming at T-Mobile Arena. Getting off to a hot start in October, on paper at least, seems to be a very good possibility.
As for the club’s all-time record in the opening month of the season, not including the pandemic shortened 2020-21 season, the Golden Knights have a 25-18-2 record. At home in October, they are 15-7-2 with a 10-8-0 road record.
Two of the October games will be seen nationwide via ESPN, including the season opener against the Los Angeles Kings. The other will be at San Jose on October 25. Both of those games will likely have a significant storyline attached to them. The season opener could see a possibility of Phil Kessel gaining a milestone goal of 400. As for the game against the Sharks, depending on the goaltender rotation, it could very well be Adin Hill’s first game against his former club since being traded to the Golden Knights earlier this month. Kessel is also expected to break the NHL record for consecutive games played that very night. The previous night will likely see Kessel tie the record against Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs.
Forecasting the Golden Knights October Schedule
Historically speaking, the month of October has been very good to the Golden Knights. With that said, a very competitive opening game against the Kings could see a challenge. In their first four games, the realistic expectation with Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle and Calgary would be to come away with two wins. Three wins is a very real target but the Flames, who have made plenty of moves this off-season, could be a team that gives the Golden Knights some issues. Considering that game is also on the road where the club has struggled historically, this will be the biggest measuring stick game of the early season. That game carries a lot of weight when it comes to the momentum push for the Golden Knights in October.
The next two games for Vegas does not get any easier with games against the Jets, Avalanche and Maple Leafs. The good news is all three of those crucial October games will take place at home. Taking the foot off the gas pedal in October is simply not an option for first year coach Bruce Cassidy. Out of a possible 20 points up for grabs in October, 14 or 15 should be the most likely scenario. Anything below 12 points in October should be a case where the club might want to keep an eye on the alarm button.
Golden Knights October Historic Trends
2017-18: 8–3–0 (Home: 6–1–0 ; Road: 2–2–0)
2018-19: 5–6–1 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 2–4–0)
2019-20: 8–5–1 (Home: 4–3–1 ; Road: 4–2–0)
2020-21: Pandemic (No Games)
2021-22: 4–4–0 (home: 2–2–0; road: 2–2–0)
October 11: at Los Angeles Kings, 7:00p PT (ESPN, ESPN+)
All-Time Series: 13-9-3 (7-5-2 Road)
October Meetings
10-13-19: | at Los Angeles (W 5-2)
10-14-21 | at Los Angeles (L 6-2)
October 13: vs Chicago Blackhawks, 7:00p PT (AT&T SN)
All-Time Series: 9-2-1 (5-2-0 Home)
October Meetings
10-24-17 | vs Chicago (W 4-2)
10-22-19 | at Chicago (W 2-1, SO)
October 15: at Seattle Kraken, 7:00p PT (AT&T SN)
All-Time Series: 4-0-0 (2-0-0 Road)
October Meetings
10-12-21 | vs Seattle (W 4-3)
October 18: at Calgary Flames, 6:00p PT (AT&T SN)
All-Time Series: 14-8-0 (3-4-0 Road)
October Meetings
10-12-19 | vs Calgary (W 6-2)
October 20: vs Winnipeg Jets, 7:00p PT (AT&T SN)
October 30: vs Winnipeg Jets, 5:00p PT (AT&T SN)
All-Time Series: 3-6-2 (2-1-2 Home)
October Meetings
Never
October 22: vs Colorado Avalanche, 7:00p PT (AT&T SN)
All-Time Series: 8-10-1 (5-6-0 Home)
October Meetings
10-27-17 | vs Colorado (W 7-0)
10-25-19 | vs Colorado (L 6-1)
10-26-21 | at Colorado (W 3-1)
October 24: vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:00p PT (AT&T SN)
All-Time Series: 2-3-3 (2-1-1 Home)
October Meetings
Never
October 25: at San Jose Sharks, 7:30p PT (ESPN, ESPN+)
All-Time Series: 18-1-4 (9-0-2 Road)
October Meetings
10-2-19 | vs San Jose (W 4-1)
10-4-19 | at San Jose (W 5-1)
October 28: vs Anaheim Ducks, 3:00p PT (AT&T SN)
All-Time Series: 20-4-0 (10-2-0 Home)
October Meetings
10-20-18 | vs Anaheim (W 3-1)
10-27-19 | vs Anaheim (W 5-2)
10-29-21 | vs Anaheim (W 5-4, SO)
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