Friday showed why Nevada hockey has a bright future, even with the Golden Knights off

The Vegas Golden Knights were resting peacefully in Las Vegas, preparing for their matchup against the Calgary Flames on Saturday. Life was already good for them with a 3-0-2 record, eight points, and the Pacific Division lead. But their little brothers got in on the fun on Friday while the NHL team was off.

First, let's look at the Henderson Silver Knights. The AHL club has had some gritty games against the defending Calder Cup champions, the Abbotsford Canucks. What did they get as their reward for being competitive against the champs? Their first regular season win, of course.

Henderson won their first game on the road, thanks to a steady game from Carl Lindbom. He earned his first shutout of the season by stopping 18 shots against the Ontario Reign. But Tanner Laczynski broke the 41-minute stalemate by scoring the game's first goal. Raphael Lavoie added a power play goal on a 5-on-3, providing insurance for the AHL club.

But wait! There's more!

The Tahoe Knight Monsters also joined in the winning festivities, doubling up the Idaho Steelheads, 6-3.

Despite 46 shots on goal from the Steelheads, they couldn't figure out Cameron Whitehead (save percentage of .935). Tahoe also got two goals and an assist from Luke Adam, along with goals from Devon Paliani, Trent Swick, Brennan Kapcheck, and Cody Laskosky.

The ECHL club picked up where it left off, dominating the league's landscape with a resounding win. But both minor league clubs winning on Friday wasn't just about victories. It was about a potential glimpse into the Golden Knights' future, where fans could have a brighter outlook than anticipated.

Why the Golden Knights future looks brighter than expected, thanks to the Henderson Silver Knights and the Tahoe Knight Monsters

First, let's look at the goaltending for both teams, shall we? Carl Lindbom, well, did Carl Lindbom things. He pitched a shutout on the road against a division rival. Of course, that's building from an impressive 2024-25 campaign, where he posted a GAA of 2.65 and a save percentage of .912 (36 games). Add three shutouts to the mix and you will have a bona fide prospect.

But you also had Cameron Whitehead, who was also impressive. While he did let in three goals, that's the side effect of facing 46 shots in a game. Like Lindbom, he was also building off an impressive 2024-25 campaign. The Northeastern University product posted a GAA of 2.74 and a save percentage of .911 with the Huskies (35 games).

But you can also look at the scoring and see plenty of scoring. Trent Swick scoring a goal is promising for the young forward's development. Cody Laskosky got the team's first goal of the season, which should build his confidence. While his NHL hopes look bleaker than Swick's, it could be the momentum he needs to become a prominent role player.

If you want to go further, the Silver Knights made big defensive strides on Friday. Limiting the Reign to 18 shots in a game's huge. You make the goaltender's job easier by taking away scoring chances and shooting lanes, making them work for their opportunities.

This could be a mere overreaction to a simple Friday. However, it could also be a step in the right direction for the Golden Knights' future. The team hasn't gotten much love for their prospects in recent years, mainly because Kelly McCrimmon has done plenty of wheelin' and dealin'. However, that narrative could shift with strong seasons from both little brothers.