Vegas Golden Knights and power play are two things that normally don't go together. It was like peanut butter and cyanide in a sandwich: It just doesn't work, no matter how hard you try. After all, the best season before 2024-25 for the unit was 22% in 2019-20.
Sure, the unit turned out its best campaign yet this season at 28.3%. But against the Minnesota Wild, they've mustered two goals on the power play in the first three games. That's pretty low and somewhat nostalgic.
But a funny thing happened on Saturday. The unit played like they were in regular season form, blistering through the Wild's penalty kill unit. It started with Shea Theodore blasting a wrister near the blue line. Then it was Nicolas Roy capitalizing on a Zeev Buium high-sticking double minor to tie the game.
That was the momentum shift needed to bring the Golden Knights back into the series. Everyone is at two games apiece (like every other Western Conference team) and the series heads back to Las Vegas. You still must win two more games to move on to the next round. But this is a good start for Vegas.
However, there's a bigger question at play. Can this unit carry that momentum over to Game 5? Even strength hasn't been the kindest to Vegas in the series. The Golden Knights have only mustered seven goals in five-on-five situations against Minnesota. But there's a legitimate case that the power play can *GASP* carry Vegas to the next round. Here's how.
How the Golden Knights power play can carry them past the Minnesota Wild
First, get Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl, and Mark Stone involved more. The top guys have only mustered three combined assists during the series, with two coming from Hertl. None of these stars have a single goal against Minnesota, which is a cause for concern.
It's already concerning that the Eichel line has been overwhelmed and outplayed by Kirill Kaprizov and the Wild top line. Being absent when there's a man advantage is even worse. That's especially true with Minnesota's penalty kill being one of the worst groups this season (72.4%).
Also, there must be a bigger presence up front from Hertl. The Czech native has been neutralized in the slot, leaving the Golden Knights to resort to passing. Finding an open look has already been hard enough with the Wild huddling around Filip Gustavsson. However, it has constricted the Golden Knights to the point of struggling.
One other important note to consider is what happens when the Vegas Golden Knights execute on the power play. In both wins in this series, they have four power play goals on seven opportunities. In the two losses? They have no goals from four opportunities. While Kaprizov and Boldy remain huge factors in the series, Vegas's man advantage is also noteworthy to consider.
Of course, that has come with sporadic penalty calling from the referees. That's especially true when comparing Game 2 (no power play opportunities) to Game 3 (four power play opportunities). However, the objective remains the same. Get the jump on the Wild early and ensure you have the momentum.