Ladies and gentlemen, I have good news. It concerns the Vegas Golden Knights' power play being the best in the NHL (30.1%). No, you don't need Wade Barrett for this one since it's not bad news. Maybe it's time to send him to the Bay Area to torment Josh from San Francisco.
After all, the bad news was already delivered to Golden Knights fans on Monday. Tomas Hertl, aka the "Fun Must Be Always" ambassador, was missing the current three-game road trip. He suffered an upper-body injury in Sunday's victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning after a boarding call on Emil Lilleberg.
As a result, his absence leaves a void in the power play. Sure, you have Shea Theodore back in the lineup. The defenseman is ready to quarterback the unit and create countless rebounds. However, you don't have that big body in the slot.
It's something Kelly McCrimmon has sought for the longest time, too. Why not have one big man on the unit (Mark Stone) when you can have two? Of course, getting rid of Steve Spott's clueless gaze and a 5'9" French-Canadian also helps. Still, the group will have some challenges ahead without the 31-year-old around.
That provides a "golden" opportunity for three players to rise to the occasion. After all, it took a lot of work to become the best power play unit in the NHL. Sacrificing Spott and Marchessault to the SEC gods was only the start. Here are three key names to watch for in Hertl's absence.
1.) Nicolas Roy
It was mentioned not long ago that Nicolas Roy had an important role in the unit. He was the bigger body who could also fit in the slot given his general size (6'4", 201 lbs.). The Quebec native is also more comfortable at center, where he can run his own line.
Well, this also applies here. The center has two goals and two assists on the power play this season. He's shown to be reliable on the second unit, acting as the big man crashing the net. Bruce Cassidy hopes to see that during the upcoming weeks with the 28-year-old getting more opportunities to shine.
2.) Mark Stone
As vital as the Captain is on the unit, he's unique in his power play production. As a bigger body, one would think he'd get down and dirty up front instead of facilitating the play. Oddly enough, he has five goals and 20 assists on the unit this season.
It's where teams aren't covering the Winnipeg native, letting him find an open man to pass. Why not jump on that opportunity and shoot the puck? He can take on the shooting responsibilities and get dirty for goals. He can also bank a deflection or two into the net, providing another spark to the best power play in the league.
3.) Victor Olofsson
Victor Olofsson hasn't had a goal in two months. He's gone on such a dry spell that he's begging for anything to go in. That spell could also mark his last month in Las Vegas, leaving the Swedish forward looking for a new home.
That's why he must score a power play goal or two. That way, he builds his confidence up come playoff time and can add more scoring depth. Sure, he's not big enough to take on Hertl's role in the slot. However, he can still function in the umbrella formation and get some shots from the point.