It's always good to see Mark Stone return to the Vegas Golden Knights lineup. Yes, I know that his skeletal system is made up entirely of Cheetos. However, you can't deny that his presence makes the entire team better, especially after a 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
That includes the supposed heir apparent to his playing style, Braeden Bowman. The super-rookie was struggling during March, heading into Thursday, only producing one assist. That meant something had to change.
What better way to do that than to adjust the lineups? After all, the Captain is back to join the Golden Knights' top line, making the unit much better. Believe it or not, that had a dramatic effect on his heir apparent, who exploded for two assists in the big win.
The simple line change of being bumped down from the top unit actually helped Bowman in a big way. I know, it seems bizarre in many facets. However, you can't deny that Thursday's game helped him, especially after seeing why.
How Braeden Bowman gained his confidence back by simply being demoted
Fans will remember how Braeden Bowman struggled to finish feeds from Jack Eichel. He couldn't gain control of the puck and would watch it go to the wayside. However, that wasn't the case on Thursday as he thrived on the third line.
For example, he centers a pass to Colton Sissons that kicks off the goal party for the Golden Knights in the first period. It was a sign of things to come for the undrafted rookie, as he'd get a second assist on the night. The lucky recipient? Pavel Dorofeyev, who scored on an even-strength (!) goal.
Overall, it was a strong night for a rookie who struggled to finish on the top line. Bowman needed to find some people who would slow the game down for him. That way, he'd absorb the plays better and thrive under a new setup.
Lo and behold, that's what happened on Thursday night. Bowman looked comfortable with his new linemates and appeared more confident. That's the type of play Golden Knights fans saw when he hopped onto the scene, reminding them of Mark Stone.
Let's be honest for a second. The Golden Knights' long-term situation looks more dire than people realize. The team has one of the oldest player cores in the NHL and desperately needs a youth injection. The good news? Bowman is heading on the right track, giving Golden Knights fans hope.