A 6-2-3 record might seem, well, mediocre compared to previous Vegas Golden Knights starts. However, getting points in all games except two is impressive. Certain games shouldn't have fetched you points, yet you persevered and made it happen. For that, you get some golden stars.
After a confusing start to the season, the Golden Knights head into November with expectations. Win the Pacific Division and the Stanley Cup. It's there before you and you have the crew to make it happen.
However, some lessons can be learned here. For example, how can you fix a broken power play missing certain players? You're trying to figure out where to place everyone and how to make things work. It's tough when you miss a key defenseman and your Captain.
That's why we must evaulate what the Golden Knights must do to get there. Who must step up and who must return? What units must play better to keep Vegas afloat? It's time to eat all your candy and prepare for the Thanksgiving feast, dear reader.
1.) The Vegas Golden Knights must stay healthy
Losing Mark Stone, Adin Hill, and Noah Hanifin has dramatically hampered the Golden Knights. Without Stone, you don't have a presence up top on the power play. Losing Hill means you don't have your starter (whether some people want to admit it or not) and losing Hanifin leaves a blue line void.
That's why November is critical for staying healthy. Get your key guys back at the right time and ensure nobody else hits the injured reserve. That way, you can tackle the tougher teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers.
2.) Get the power play back to prominence
Watching the Golden Knights' power play on Nevada Day showed me one thing: this group needs its Captain up top again. Without Stone, you don't have a quarterback who can run the show. Stone sees the entire penalty kill setup and knows where he must attack.
Golden Knights power play:
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) October 31, 2025
With Mark Stone: 9-for-24 (37.5%)
Without Mark Stone: 1-for-17 (5.9%)
Of course, it also falls on certain players not getting the job done. That ranges from not feeding Hertl enough in the slot to making too many passes. However, there's also a huge vacancy without your top veteran presence and it shows on the power play. After all, a power play percentage of 22.7% since October 18 isn't cutting it.
3.) Pull away from a weakened Pacific Division
This season has been peculiar for the Pacific Division. Only one team aside from the Golden Knights has a positive goal differential, with that being the Anaheim Ducks (+1) heading into Friday. Surprising names like the Seattle Kraken are sitting in playoff spots, making the division even more mind-boggling.
However, that's with the Edmonton Oilers slumbering. Soon, they'll awaken and give the Golden Knights a run for their money. So why not build up points for the upcoming months by going strong in November? While the home stretch has tough games like the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Florida Panthers, there are winnable games ahead.
We're talking about contests against the San Jose Sharks, the Calgary Flames, and the New York Islanders. Such games could provide the necessary cushion for Vegas to pull away and weather tougher months like January and February.