The United States has had one of the most memorable hockey runs in Olympic history. They saw the ladies defeat the Canadians in overtime for Olympic gold. Then, they saw the men defeat the Canadians for Olympic gold... in overtime.
It was worth getting up at 5 AM PST just to watch an instant classic, seeing Connor Hellebuyck carry his country on his back. It was also worth watching Jack Hughes score the golden goal for the Americans, etching his name in immortality. Yes, the United States didn't get the most medals all around (Norway had 41 medals). However, it was the greatest Olympics for the Americans.
For Golden Knights fans, it was even better. They saw Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin win Olympic gold. Two Boston boys are adding another accolade to their growing resumes. What a story, eh?
But those weren't the only victories that Golden Knights fans experienced. Perhaps the most pleasant victory (and surprise!) came with no Golden Knights being injured. That's a victory that could serve Vegas well in the long run, keeping them afloat during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Why the Vegas Golden Knights coming home unscatched after the Olympics matters
In case you haven't heard the news, the Golden Knights got not one, not two, but three key players back on the ice on Friday. Brayden McNabb, Colton Sissons, and Brandon Saad all returned for the Golden Knights, with the latter two returning in red no-contact jerseys.
The Golden Knights also have a daunting five-game road trip that takes them predominately eastward. That includes contests against the surprising Buffalo Sabres and the shocking Detroit Red Wings. These won't be easy games, especially with superstar Olympians like Tage Thompson and Dylan Larkin waiting.
Having McNabb return with no additional Golden Knights injured is a bigger win than people realize. Imagine what would've happened if Mark Stone got hurt again (cue the LTIR conspiracy theorists)? How much would the vibe shift if Jack Eichel weren't around? Without these players, Vegas is climbing an uphill battle.
Golden Knights fans can point to Shea Theodore's upper-body injury at the 4 Nations Face-Off as a perfect example
Last season, Shea Theodore represented Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off. An ugly hit from Adrian Kempe broke the Misfit's wrist and forearm, putting him out of commission for some time. While the damage wasn't as significant as people thought, the effect lingered.
Suddenly, Golden Knights fans thought about the consequences of losing a star. They didn't want to see a key player go down with an injury in the middle of international competition. It's why Alex Pietrangelo wasn't around for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Dealing with an ailment will only make the problem worse.
Fortunately, that didn't happen to Vegas during the Olympic break. No superstars appear to be hurt after the global games concluded, marking the biggest victory yet for the Golden Knights. By the way, Vegas has an all-time record of 69-34-8 in March. Do what you will with that information. But that bodes well for the boys as they return from Italy.