Let me ask you a question, dear reader. Who would win: 100 Vegas Golden Knights or a gorilla? Sure, you have the massive primate who could body anybody. But with the way the Golden Knights are winning their last two games, they look like they can take down anybody.
That statement is certainly true after a "wild" 3-2 victory on Tuesday over the Minnesota Wild. Like the series, it was a roller coaster of emotions that ended with everyone smiling in T-Mobile Arena.
Lo and behold, the party was started by William Karlsson on--what else?--a shorthanded opportunity with Jack Eichel.
Of course, Kirill Kaprizov responded in a quick manner with a power play goal of his own. That evened things up, leaving Golden Knights fans on the edge of their seats.
However, the top guys came through thanks to Mark Stone's shot from the blue line. Not even a Minnesota challenge for goaltender interference could stop the Captain from scoring a goal.
But perhaps the most promising sign from the Golden Knights was notching 17 shots in the first period. It was a relentless barrage of offensive zone pressure, leaving Filip Gustavsson constantly on his heels. Alas, it appeared it wasn't enough as the Wild would head into Game 6 with a 3-2 lead thanks to Ryan Hartman...
...At least that's what it appeared to be. However, the Golden Knights were saved by an offside call. Then came the overtime hero who needed a big-time goal, Brett Howden.
It looks like 100 Howdens and 100 Eichels could take down a gorilla, after all.
Jack Eichel needed a game like this
Vegas Golden Knights fans were worried about Jack Eichel not showing up. He had no points in the first three games, leaving fans wondering if he was tired.
"Is this it for the superstar?"
"He looks tired. He needs a vacation to Tahiti."
Well, it looks like the beast has been awakened. Eichel had two assists on Tuesday. A simple switch from Bruce Cassidy put William Karlsson and Eichel together. The result was a dominating first period and a lead after two.
The game might've taken a near-unfortunate turn in the third period. However, Eichel's return has the team on the cusp of advancing to the next round. This is what you should expect from your best player. Your superstar should always come through when needed and lead your team to victory. Thanks to Eichel, the Golden Knights are a win from putting this series away.
What needs to change for the Vegas Golden Knights
If you're looking to put away a team for good, you MUST bury your power play chances. That means getting Tomas Hertl feeds and looking for open deflections. The Golden Knights had every opportunity to crack this open in the second period.
Unfortunately, they didn't convert any of the three power play opportunities called throughout the game. Granted, it wasn't without trying. The team just couldn't get anything going throughout the game.
That must change in Game 6 if the Golden Knights want to win. They must control the puck and look for open opportunities to pepper Gustavsson. There's also continuing the offensive pressure and not letting up. Getting 17 shots on goal in the first period is nice. However, 11 combined shots in the next two periods isn't getting the job done.
Let's be honest. The series hasn't been the prettiest for the Vegas Golden Knights. They've had to dig deep and take down a pestilent Minnesota Wild team. But with Jack Eichel waking up and Brett Howden coming through in the clutch, this team looks like it can take down anybody. That includes any unfortunate gorillas that hit the ice.