The month of January can be the most physically exhausting for everyone. It's the month after you've spent all your hard-earned money on Christmas gifts that'll be shelved a month later. It's also the month that Vegas Golden Knights fans dread the most: January.
The Golden Knights have an all-time record of 43-34-13 during this horrendous month. That includes a subpar stretch of 6-6-3 last season, which kept them clunking along (barely). Historically, the month of January has left Golden Knights fans feeling a little bit like this.
This year, a rough stretch that could knock the ol' wheels off. You're looking at a tough East Coast trip that consists of playoff teams like the Ottawa Senators, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Montreal Canadiens.
But is it bad overall? Well...
- January 2nd: @St. Louis
- January 4th: @Chicago
- Janaury 6th: @Winnipeg
- January 8th: Columbus
- January 10th: St. Louis
- January 11th: @San Jose
- January 14th: @Los Angeles
- January 15th: Toronto
- January 17th: Nashville
- January 19th: Philadelphia
- January 22nd: @Boston
- January 23rd: @Toronto
- January 25th: @Ottawa
- January 27th: @Montreal
- January 29th: Dallas
- January 31st: Seattle
There's a lot to unpack here. But there are also plenty of games against playoff teams from last season. That could mean trouble for the Golden Knights again.
Why this season will be no different for the Vegas Golden Knights
The aforementioned trip to the East Coast will bring some problems for the Golden Knights. Even if the Senators and Canadiens were marginal teams and the Maple Leafs lost "he who shall not be named," that doesn't mean those games will be easier.
But the other issue comes at the beginning of the month. You're facing two playoff teams from last season in the Winnipeg Jets and the St. Louis Blues. On top of that, the Jets won the Presidents' Trophy last season.
But wait! There's more!
The next road trip (if you'll even call it that since it has two games) has the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings gave Vegas all sorts of problems last season, holding a 3-1 series advantage. They also had a home record of 31-6-4 in 2024-25. Uh oh, Spaghetti-O's!
Even some of the home games can be troublesome. Three games are against playoff teams from last season. That'll give the Golden Knights countless fits during the stretch. That's not even mentioning the fringe teams they could face, including the Columbus Blue Jackets.
A hot start is recommended for the Golden Knights here
That's why getting off to a hot start is vital for the Golden Knights. They must handle their business and provide that cushion to prevent the rough ride. Luckily, that hasn't been a problem for Bruce Cassidy's squad.
Season | Record In The First 15 Games |
|---|---|
2022-23 | 13-2-0 |
2023-24 | 12-2-1 |
2024-25 | 9-4-2 |
The last three seasons have done a good job of putting the Golden Knights in a favorable position. Part of that is because Cassidy knows how to prepare his teams for the season.
During this stretch, you're seeing games against the Seattle Kraken, Boston Bruins, and the San Jose Sharks, to name a few. Of course, there's a rough five-game stretch involving playoff teams from last season, including the two-time Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers.
But! A six-game home stretch awaits the Golden Knights afterwards. Sure, you're playing teams like the Colorado Avalanche, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Panthers. But home cooking has served Vegas well, especially with a record of 29-9-3 in 2024-25.
Let's face it. There's no avoiding this dreaded month like the triple-digit heat we're melting in right now. You should probably stock up on those points like they're toilet paper during COVID. That way, your rear end can look cleaner after enduring the brutal month of January.