Give this Golden Knights defenseman props for redeeming himself in Game 4

Hockey can be a funny sport. One day, you're having a nightmare game with two turnovers that lead to a bad loss. A few days later, you're the main catalyst behind the Vegas Golden Knights evening the series.

Such is the case for Shea Theodore, who had the worst performance imaginable in Game 2. He had two costly giveaways that led to goals, resulting in a 5-2 blowout from Minnesota. The fanbase turned on him and let him have it all over social media.

Luckily, the Stanley Cup playoffs consist of seven games instead of one. That's where Theodore made his move in Game 4, scoring the game's first goal on the power play.

It turns out that getting the first goal was the momentum needed for the Golden Knights to believe. Sure, the game shifted to the Wild after Marcus Foligno's second-period goal. However, the 29-year-old instilled some confidence into a tired Golden Knights team. They were uncertain they would win the series after consecutive 5-2 blowouts.

But now? Vegas has evened the series as Game 5 heads back to T-Mobile Arena. Now, the gang's feeling good about themselves. They know they can take down the Wild and take care of business. It's just a matter of getting past the neutral zone-crunching forecheck and carrying that momentum into Tuesday.

Shea Theodore's impact went beyond scoring the first goal

Landing the first punch in a fight is always important. Your foe must find a way to respond. They must react accordingly and fire a counter-punch. Otherwise, it's a quick knockout. Shea Theodore's power play goal was equivalent to that.

Firing a simple wrister on a power play gave the Golden Knights much-needed confidence in a must-win game. Mind you, Vegas got two power play goals that game, including another in the third period from Nicolas Roy. Sure, it might've temporarily staved off an aggressive Minnesota Wild team for a bit. However, building confidence is paramount for a team in a must-win situation.

That's especially true after the power play was nowhere to be seen in Game 3. Going 0-for-4 on the man advantage can diminish a team's confidence. When you have the second-best unit during the regular season, that's unacceptable. With Theodore's power play goal, the unit suddenly has life.

It isn't just the power play that has reaped the benefits, though. Look at his impact card for Game 4.

What's more, Theodore and Brayden McNabb had Game 2 performances to forget. Ironically, both turned in impeccable performances to redeem themselves. Theodore fired six shots and had a blocked shot while McNabb had an assist, a hit, and a blocked shot.

Will this spark a team turnaround for the Vegas Golden Knights?

Heading into Game 4, the past two performances had the team searching for answers. Nothing clicked for the Golden Knights, whether it was the power play or the top line. They needed to respond to a team that was aggressive in its forecheck, particularly in Vegas's defending zone.

Sometimes, it can come from a player who had the worst day possible. When you go from the bottom of the impact card to the top, you know you've done something right. For Shea Theodore, that was the push needed to get him back on track.

Will it lead to the team taking the series back? Stay tuned. There are still two more games to win before you head to the second round. But it takes making that first step to get to the promised land. Theodore's power play goal is what the doctor ordered. Now, you have your teammates believing you can go all the way. Sometimes, you just need a little faith.