Plenty of Vegas Golden Knights fans were shocked by Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth. They couldn't believe that the boys would lose a game at T-Mobile Arena to a young Mammoth team that flew around the ice at breakneck speeds.
While the loss might've rattled some people, one Original Misfit doesn't believe that the team's screwed. In fact, Brayden McNabb laid out what the team expects from Friday's contest in Salt Lake City. Let's just say that the team knows what's ahead of them for Game 3.
"We know what we have in here. It’s a seven-game series, so big game three. "Brayden McNabb
Of course, this is a veteran group that has seen it all. We're talking about the Misfits being in two Stanley Cup Finals, winning a Stanley Cup, and only missing one postseason (2021-22). This is a group that has experienced everything, whether it's total heartbreak or being at the top of the mountain.
Vegas Golden Knights fans can trust Brayden McNabb's word before Game 3 against the Utah Mammoth
The Golden Knights know the type of team that they have ahead of Friday's pivotal tilt against the Utah Mammoth. They know that they have the experience advantage across the board, whether that's with the players or the head coach.
Sure, Utah might move faster and carry the play easier. But have players like Karel Vejmelka and Clayton Keller been in this spot before? Do they understand that each playoff series is built like a marathon instead of a sprint?
That's the big question that looms for Utah ahead of Game 3. Yes, the Mammoth crowd will be, well, mammoth in Delta Center for Friday's tilt. But you don't have to ask the playoff series question about the Golden Knights since numerous players have been there. They understand what it takes to win gritty playoff series like this one.
The Golden Knights still can't be their own worst enemy against the Mammoth
While the playoff experience factor is nice to have, that doesn't mean that the Golden Knights should be too loose. There have been moments in the series when the Golden Knights have had mental lapses in their play. One can point to Carter Hart's misread in Game 1 as one example. They can also look at Rasmus Andersson kicking the puck into his own net as another example.
Whatever the case, Game 3 will be much tougher for Vegas than people realize. Utah will be playing hungry and they'll feed off the energy from the Delta Center faithful. The franchise wants to make as much noise as possible and beating Vegas would go a long way in making that happen.
If there's one thing that John Tortorella is good at doing, it's cranking up the intensity. That could involve turning up the practices and working on the team's rushes. That could also mean line-loading, where Vegas puts its best players all on one line. Regardless, expect the Golden Knights to bring their A-game against Utah.
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