Do you remember how you felt after the Vegas Golden Knights were blown out in Game 2? You certainly didn't feel too great about it, did you? Some of you were shocked by what transpired.
A "Wild" top line getting the best of Jack Eichel and Mark Stone.
Shea Theodore giving the puck away, leading to unfortunate goals.
Filip Gustavsson being unstoppable.
All these things had Golden Knights fans in a panic. Suddenly, it felt like it would be the beginning of the end of a promising Stanley Cup playoff run. Fans are giving up on the team for losing one game.
Who knows? Maybe the series doesn't turn out as fans hoped. Perhaps a motivated Wild team gets the best. But nobody wants to see that, especially in Las Vegas. This team knows it can win another Stanley Cup. They know what it takes to go all the way and prove the skeptics wrong.
T-Mobile Arena is the focal point of this series
After all, that's what happened in 2023. Everybody thought this team wouldn't win a Stanley Cup that season. Yet, they won the Pacific Division with more than 100 points and 50 or more wins. The same circumstances are set for the Golden Knights. They capped off an incredible season at... T-Mobile Arena.
Speaking of which, that's the topic of today's discussion. It's no secret that the Vegas Golden Knights have been successful at T-Mobile Arena this season. It's part of why they won the Pacific Division. However, nothing is given to people automatically. That's why you play to win the game.
Luckily, a recent trend gives Golden Knights fans some hope. It does involve T-Mobile Arena and how home cooking is of the utmost importance. How does this trend give fans hope of not worrying about heading to St. Paul down, 3-2?
A Stanley Cup playoffs trend has Golden Knights fans hopeful
Home teams have a record of 23-10 during the Stanley Cup playoffs this year. That's a promising sign for a Golden Knights team looking to take the series. This year, they have a 1-1 record at T-Mobile Arena. Of course, that's the same record the Minnesota Wild have at Xcel Energy Center during this year's playoffs.
But there's one cautionary note: The Wild also have a regular season road record of 23-13-5. They already took Game 2 behind a strong forecheck and a tough top line. Golden Knights fans shouldn't take Minnesota lightly, especially after watching the home team lose in Game 2.
Still, the home team trend bodes well for Vegas. They have a regular season home record of 29-9-3, one of the best marks in the NHL (fifth-best). If they can stymie the wild card team with more offensive zone time and take control early, it should be smoother sailing on Tuesday.
Mind you, that was supposed to be the theme, according to countless experts heading into the series. However, a hungry Wild team has given the series favorites fits. Therefore, taking Game 4's momentum and turning it into gold is a must. You don't want to go back to St. Paul down 3-2, do you?