There are days in our lives where we're not feeling it. We just feel like lying in our beds and stare at the ceiling. Sometimes, it comes in the form of a two-hour nap. Whatever the case, we just need that extra day or two to recharge in life. After that, it's back to work.
The Vegas Golden Knights got that in the form of two weeks, with the exception of five players. The team needed to rest after a long stretch that saw them go 3-8-3 in a span of 14 games. Stretches like this aren't characteristic of a team looking for another Stanley Cup. Instead, they rebound and go harder.
It's valid that some players are shaking off the mini-rust from the break and getting into the swing of things. For example, Ivan Barbashev hadn't scored a goal since returning from an upper-body injury on January 11 before Saturday's game. But he got the goal he needed to build his confidence,
Three other Golden Knights could use such a boost down the home stretch. After all, you're not getting your scoring from your top two lines. There must be balance in many facets of life, including hockey! Let's look at the three names who must snap out of their current scoring funks and help their team clinch the division.
Nicolas Roy
Nicolas Roy has been stone-cold in the past two months. He only has one goal and six assists in that span, leaving a massive scoring void on the lower lines. The center has also taken 20 shots in that period. These numbers have been underwhelming for a player looking to take on a larger role in the lineup.
It's no wonder his numbers (seven goals and 13 assists in 2024-25) are a far cry from last season's (13 goals and 28 assists in 2023-24). These stats also tell the story regarding his recession. If the Vegas Golden Knights want to win the division, Roy must revert to his 2023-24 form.
Season | Goals | Assists | High-Danger xGoals | Medium-Danger xGoals | Flurry Adjusted xGoals | On-Ice Goal Differential |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024-25 | 7 | 13 | 4.24 | 3.63 | 9.2 | -7 |
2023-24 | 13 | 28 | 9.53 | 5.02 | 16.3 | 5 |
Victor Olofsson
Victor Olofsson started the season well. He scored three goals in four games before suffering a lower-body injury on October 15 against the Washington Capitals. Then came a dominant December where he scored five goals and five assists. Life was good for the Swedish winger.
Now? He has one goal in his last 12 games. Suddenly, he's become a non-factor both on even strength and the power play. That must change especially if the Golden Knights want to go on a deep playoff run. Bruce Cassidy has tried experimenting with Olofsson on the top line, which hasn't produced any results. Maybe demoting him a line or two will light a fire under him?
Brett Howden
At one point, there was excitement about Brett Howden evolving into a key player for the Golden Knights. He was growing his offensive game, delivering awe-inspiring moments like this.
BRETT HOWDEN! 😮💨
— NHL (@NHL) November 3, 2024
His sixth goal of the season is the @Energizer overtime winner as the @GoldenKnights improve to 8-0-0 at home! pic.twitter.com/WhfWZ9mKIT
But he hasn't scored since January 20 against the St. Louis Blues. But it's not for a lack of trying. He's fired off 16 shots in February. It's similar to the problem Ivan Barbashev had. None of his shots were going through, leaving him without much confidence.
Therefore, a similar approach to Barbashev's game must be taken. Look for the simple looks and capitalize. Don't do too much and you'll find those goals. The good news is Howden has four assists in his past three games. He's warming up and will find those chances if he doesn't try too hard to milk those chances.