The Vegas Golden Knights got some splendid news on Thursday night. Aside from MLB having its Opening Day festivities, the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers were blown out of the water. The Seattle Kraken drilled through Edmonton, 6-1, acting as the "Greatest Expansion Story Ever Told" for one night only. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche were simply great, shutting out those pesky Kings, 4-0.
That provided much-needed relief for the division-leading Golden Knights, who needed a reprieve from their rivals constantly winning. Now, they can extend their four-game winning streak with a victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.
It looks like an easy task, too. The Blackhawks are eliminated from playoff contention and are seeing which young stars will make the roster next season. They're also 14-18-4 at the United Center this season, sweetening the deal for the visitors.
At least, that's what appears to be on paper. You see, dear reader, the Golden Knights have had some trouble with Chicago this season. They lost at that same United Center on January 18, 5-3. They also escaped February 27's contest with a 7-5 victory. Fans will remember Ilya Samsonov nearly blowing the contest at T-Mobile Arena that fateful night.
But fans shouldn't be cautious based on the past two games alone, though. Other underlying factors make Chicago a tough cookie to crack. For one, they're a team with nothing to lose. Why not play spoiler and ruin a team's chances at winning the division? But there are some statistics that could turn this trip into a nightmare quickly.
What the Vegas Golden Knights must watch for against the Chicago Blackhawks
First, the Chicago Blackhawks' penalty kill is no joke. They're tied for 10th in the NHL in PK% at 80.9. They've done an excellent job with their exits and disrupting the play, giving their opponents fits.
"But, Jacob! Vegas has three power play goals against the Blackhawks this season!"
Yes, that's true. However, Tomas Hertl accounted for two of those goals. He's missing the road trip with an upper-body injury and will leave a vacuous void in the power play. Therefore, it's up to the other unit members to step up. That could leave the group in a bind against Chicago, where they can guard the slot successfully.
That could prove deadly, especially with Ilya Samsonov starting in both games. Will Bruce Cassidy go with the third time being the charm? Or does the more reliable Adin Hill get the start for the Golden Knights? It could determine whether the trip goes south or slams the division door shut.
Plus, Vegas hasn't been the best on the road. In 2024-25, they have a road record of 16-13-5, which isn't the most stellar record. It's been mentioned numerous times how important home-ice advantage is for the Golden Knights. Even with a road contest against a middling club, you can't blow that opportunity.
Still, this is a team that has lost eight of its last nine games. There's no purpose in finishing out the season aside from testing whichever younger players are worth keeping (as mentioned). But if there's one thing Golden Knights fans are weary of, it's the trap game that can derail a whole season.