An enigmatic start to the Vegas Golden Knights' season have brought about a challenging three-game road trip. Don't be fooled by some teams having slow starts, either. All three teams made the Stanley Cup playoffs last season.
We're talking about the defending Stanley Cup champions and the last unbeaten team in the NHL. Add a slumbering giant in the Tampa Bay Lightning and things could get dicey quickly. In fact, one could look at last season's East Coast trip as a perfect example of rough sailing.
The Golden Knights only got one point against the Panthers, the Lightning, and the Washington Capitals. That included a blown 3-2 lead against Tampa Bay, leaving some fans concerned about the team's viability on the road.
Could that be the case this year? Possibly. Vegas has had some concerns about the team's enigmatic start, including the blue line starting slowly. But that could be put to rest with a solid trip.
Now, ask yourself how that could happen. Could it be because of the strong start from Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev? What about the blue line continuing its turnaround?
It's easy to say, "Just win, baby." But let's see how the Golden Knights can have a successful trip.
1.) The middle of the Golden Knights lineup breaks through
The middle of the Golden Knights' lineup has had no luck with breaking through for goals this season. Regular names like Reilly Smith (one goal) and Brandon Saad (one assist) have struggled to generate any offense.
Bruce Cassidy is banking on another lineup shuffle to right those wrongs. He put Saad on the top line alongside Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev, hoping that the scoring will rub off on the winger. As for Smith? The expectation is that his Misfit buddy, William Karlsson, will help him and Alexander Holtz get going.
The Golden Knights will face tough competition on the East Coast trip, including a rematch against the vaunted Carolina Hurricanes. Vegas must match such opponents offensively and bring a goal-scoring acumen with them. On that note...
2.) The Golden Knights must hold the fort defensively
The last two games have seen a drastic improvement in the defensive game for Vegas. They've had a combined total of 41 shots in that span, making life frantic for opposing offenses. Getting back to the basics has led the Golden Knights to a defensive renaissance.
As mentioned, that defensive stronghold will be tested. The Hurricanes, the Florida Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Lightning all have viable offensive weapons that will test Bruce Cassidy's club. Will Vegas handle the tuned-up offensive pressure without names like Adin Hill and Noah Hanifin?
3.) Special teams must come through for Vegas
The Golden Knights picked up where they left off on the power play from last season, with a percentage of 32.1% (second-best in the NHL entering Wednesday). They've been integral to Vegas finding an offensive groove (4.29 goals per game entering Wednesday, best in the NHL).
That will be tested during the trip, with the Lightning (90.5%, fifth-best in the NHL) and the Panthers (82.8%, 12th in the NHL) boasting strong penalty kills. But that's not the only Vegas unit that will be tested.
The Golden Knights have seen the penalty kill take strides. Sure, they're 22nd in the NHL with a percentage of 73.7. However, they can continue that momentum with a strong three-game showing.