Ladies and gentlemen, I have some bad news for you. The Vegas Golden Knights are heading on another brutal East Coast trip. After having a shaky three-game stand to start the season, the Golden Knights are tasked with winning in the Big Apple, the City of Brotherly Love, and... Ohio.
Yes, the Golden Knights are going to New York and the Northeast for five games. After winning the last two home games of their recent homestand, Vegas is looking to build off that momentum and turn it into a hot streak.
Let's keep it 100% here. The Golden Knights need that this season. It's been a shaky start to the 2025-26 campaign, with fans seeing a record of 12-6-8. That's good for 32 points and second place in the Pacific Division. However, fans also know that you're leaving points on the board.
If there's one thing you should never do in Las Vegas, it's to leave money on the table.
Thus, there's some work to be done. With that comes three key players for the upcoming road trip. These stars either need a breakthrough game or are looking to build on their momentum to the top. You probably know all of these names by heart. But let's see who sticks out the most here.
1.) Mitch Marner
Golden Knights fans have seen their newest superstar do what he does best: distribute pucks. However, they haven't gotten much from him in the goals department, leaving them underwhelmed.
If there was ever a trip designed for a particular Golden Knights star, it's Mitch Marner. While he spent his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the "Core Four," the winger also has valuable experience against the five Metropolitan Division teams.
Team | Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
Columbus Blue Jackets | 22 | 8 | 19 |
Philadelphia Flyers | 21 | 4 | 20 |
New Jersey Devils | 22 | 7 | 17 |
New York Rangers | 24 | 9 | 13 |
New York Islanders | 23 | 10 | 11 |
Watch for Marner in the latter part of the five-game swing. He'll face off against the Philadelphia Flyers and the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he's had the most success.
2.) Carter Hart
Golden Knights fans were impressed with the new goaltender's performance on Tuesday. He stopped 27 of 30 shots for a 4-3 shootout victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Is he part of the goaltending solution that the Golden Knights desperately needed? Possibly. But he's also shaking off some goaltending rust after not playing in the NHL for nearly two years.
If the Golden Knights want to have a successful road trip, that means Hart must continue working out the kinks. Otherwise, it'll mean utter disaster and more uncertainty in Las Vegas.
3.) Braeden Bowman
The hotshot rookie has done well in his current stint, scoring five goals and four assists. But the other stats tell a story of a young star quickly becoming a crucial piece to the Golden Knights' puzzle.
Player | Shooting Percentage | Shooting Percentage On Unblocked Shots | High Danger xGoals | Corsi | Fenwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Braeden Bowman | 21.7% | 14.7% | 2.94 | 59% | 59% |
Much has been made about how he's thrived while being suddenly thrust into the lineup. However, he's done well in other aspects, including scoring goals when he has space.
If Bowman can build off his momentum and continue to fit in well, there will be no reason to take him out of the lineup. The Golden Knights need a youth injection in their forward group. Bowman could be what the doctor ordered for this season and the next.