Don't you love it when the Vegas Golden Knights get a win? Even if it's a 4-0 shutout against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Golden Knights will take those victories whenever they can get them. That's especially true with the Pacific Division heating up.
Teams like the Anaheim Ducks and the Edmonton Oilers smell blood in the water and want the crown. They know that there's a good chance of making it to the Western Conference Final. Besides, the three-headed monster in the Central Division is gonna eat itself alive, right? Gotta make it through that gauntlet before facing off against a squeaky-clean Pacific Division winner!
Speaking of Central Division teams, the Blackhawks aren't a part of that three-headed monster. They headed into Saturday's game with no hope of making it to the playoffs this season. Instead, it's another rebuilding season where you're stockpiling draft picks for the future.
In turn, the Golden Knights had easy pickings as they won their second straight game. While there are a litany of superstars at the forefront of this mammoth beatdown, three names stand out as "Knights" in shining armor. Who are these three superstars that stole the show?
1.) Pavel Dorofeyev
As Dorofeyev inches closer to the single-season goals record, the Golden Knights winger also added an assist on Rasmus Andersson's goal with his two goals. Dorofeyev has four goals and two assists in his last two games, marking a significant boost in Vegas's overall offense.
In fact, he's starting to show his adaptability, whether he's on even strength or on the power play. That was apparent on Saturday night, when he put on a master class for finishing in Vegas's 4-0 shutout.
2.) Adin Hill
Look, I know that I've dogged on Hill plenty of times on here. He's dealt with underperformance and lower-body injuries, making him expendable. However, the Calgary native was actually... good.
Yeah, I know it seems far-fetched to say! However, you can't deny that stopping all 21 shots on goal is good. Sure, there were times when he bit on some opportunities prematurely. Plus, it's against the Blackhawks. Still, the netminder showed his worth and silenced his critics.
Imagine what a good Hill can do for the rest of the season. Golden Knights fans will be lining up to give their thanks, while the critics will be apologizing (hello, party of one!). That would be great news for a Golden Knights Stanley Cup run.
3.) Rasmus Andersson
The new Golden Knights defenseman has started off slowly in his Vegas residency. Entering Saturday's game, the Swedish Olympian only had one goal and five assists in 17 games. But he got off the snide against the Blackhawks with a goal, putting himself on the right path.
If he can build off his goal on Saturday, there's no telling what the defenseman can do. Vegas would have an unbreakable offense with him around, tuning them into a 200-ft machine. That would be bad news for the Pacific Division... and for the rest of the NHL.