Tuesday's game against the Calgary Flames was another bizarre adventure for the Vegas Golden Knights. They needed a comeback to double up the Flames, 4-2. On top of that, Adin Hill took a shot to... the groin.
While the Golden Knights were down in the first period, 2-0, Akira Schmid kept them in the game by stopping all 19 shots he faced. That opened the door for Mark Stone and Jack Eichel to take over, leading Vegas to another victory.
It's only fitting for both teams to meet on Saturday. This time, the festivities are happening at T-Mobile Arena at 7:00 PM and the Flames are looking for revenge. The looming problem? Calgary's 1-4-0 to start the season.
There are many problems with the Flames (more on that in a bit) that fans come to expect. First, you're the proverbial little brother to the Edmonton Oilers. It's expected since, well, they have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on their team, putting them at the forefront of the Stanley Cup conversation.
Of course, you also have Saturday's opponent staring at your face. The Golden Knights, armed with Stone, Eichel, Pavel Dorofeyev, and good vibes, look to continue their torrid start. Could Saturday's game be the complete performance that they've looked for? Or could this be a trap game that could hand Vegas its first regulation loss of the season?
What to watch for between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Calgary Flames
Looking at Tuesday's game between the Golden Knights and the Flames, one thing immediately stood out. First, the defensive zone turnovers set Vegas back in the first period. They found themselves down to Calgary, 2-0, thanks to goals from Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. Taking care of the puck will be imperative for a Golden Knights victory on Saturday.
That's especially true since Calgary won the giveaway battle by a count of 13-12. Last season, this was a glaring problem for Vegas, for they averaged 15.90 giveaways per game. Take care of the puck (especially in the defensive zone) and you should have no issues against the Flames.
Also, which key player will get their first goal of the season? Names like Mitch Marner (six assists) and Mark Stone (nine assists) are without tallies. Luckily, Calgary is tied for the sixth-most goals allowed this season (3.80 goals per game allowed), making them ripe for an offensive showcase.
Finally, the Flames have lost four straight since stunning their big brothers in the season opener. In that span, they've been outscored, 16-6. Saturday's game could offer the Golden Knights the perfect chance to feast on a struggling opponent, especially with a redhot Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev.
Bruce Cassidy is well-known for getting his clubs off to hot starts. He did that in the Stanley Cup year with Vegas, getting them off to a 13-2-0 start. Saturday's divisional matchup could offer more meat for the carnivores, building more points for the rough stretches. You could say that Vegas would be on... a heater.