Alex Pietrangelo is quietly thriving in 2024-25

The Vegas Golden Knights have had no shortage of goal scorers to start the season. Names like Mark Stone (an NHL-best 17 points), Jack Eichel (15 points), and even the newly-extended Shea Theodore (seven assists) have made the unit the best in the NHL (4.67 goals per game). However, one particular defenseman has flown under the radar, making him one of the most important contributors to the attack.

Eight assists in the past three games is an impressive feat. It shows how well Alex Pietrangelo has adapted, turning his early fortunes around. He started off good, notching three assists in his first three games. However, there was a dead period where he didn't score a single point. Of course, that was the road stretch, where the Golden Knights are still trying to figure things out.

Still, it's worth noting that Pietrangelo has been a different beast at T-Mobile Arena. All 11 of his assists have come in Las Vegas, a place where he's thrived. What's the secret to the two-time Stanley Cup champion's success? How is he creating opportunities for his teammates where they can score? It's no longer a secret that Pietrangelo is up to his usual tricks with the Golden Knights. So let's see what those tricks are and how he's helping his team thrive early.

The secret to Alex Pietrangelo helping the Vegas Golden Knights early

Alex Pietrangelo has made a name for seeing where his teammates are at all times. He watches the play unfold and will move one step ahead of opposing defenses. That's been a major contributor to his early success, with this William Karlsson goal being the perfect example.

Yes, one can say that Vitek Vanecek should've, as Steve Dangle affectionately puts it, "TEND THE GOAL!" Yes, William Karlsson does the heavy lifting on this short-handed goal, too. However, this doesn't happen if Pietrangelo doesn't see Karlsson with only one defender with him. The returning "Misfit" knows he can break ahead and head towards the goal. So why not take a chance and see what happens?

It turns out that this worked out as Vanecek misplays the puck. It results in Karlsson getting it first as the Sharks goaltender scrambles to get back into position. What happens next? A short-handed goal by none other than the man known for such goals. Ironically, it was the game-winning goal as the Golden Knights capped off an impressive 7-3 victory over the Sharks.

Plays like that make Pietrangelo one of the better blue-liners in the league. There's the defensive aspect of his game, where he puts his body on the line every night. However, there's also the offensive side of things where he sees the full length of the ice. Not many defensemen can say that, especially in today's league.

How long can he keep this up?

Ironically, shifting Noah Hanifin to the top pairing has been beneficial for Alex Pietrangelo. Before Bruce Cassidy changed the defensive group, Pietrangelo had three assists in the pairing with Shea Theodore. Now? He's exploded for eight in his last three games. The change has helped him become a better puck-mover, creating more scoring opportunities for his teammates.

So how long will this last? Could this be an all-season affair which sees the two-time Stanley Cup champion re-establish himself as an elite player at his position? It's certainly a possibility, where he can lead the charge for a Vegas Golden Knights team starting strong offensively.

It could happen against the Calgary Flames. The surprising team is a better team defensively than the Sharks (that's not saying much, though), as proven by their expected goals against (2.44 compared to San Jose's 3.01). Regardless, the next couple of weeks looks favorable for Pietrangelo to play strong.

No matter what happens, the Vegas Golden Knights have looked solid offensively. It appears they haven't missed a step with names like Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson gone. One can say Pietrangelo is leading the charge, orchestrating a string of solid scoring opportunities. It might also be, as he puts it, "just luck."