Did you know that St. Patrick's Day is only five days away? I know, I couldn't believe it, either. The day that's as green as the Dallas Stars is rapidly approaching, meaning that you'd better wear your green. Otherwise, you're getting pinched.
The Vegas Golden Knights could use the luck of the Irish for the rest of the season, for they've lost six of their last seven games. Overall, it's been a trying time for the Golden Knights, watching guys like Mark Stone and Brett Howden drop like flies. In fact, fans are starting to worry that the team could drop out of the playoff picture altogether.
Hopefully, that's not the case because the Golden Knights have an obligatory duty to anger the 31 other NHL teams. You must rile up the masses with Mitch Marner signings and Stone being placed on LTIR. Otherwise, what are you even doing?
That starts on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins are a playoff-position team, seeing a resurgence among players like Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. While both players aren't going to be around, it's still worth noting the things that are happening in your backyard. Let's look at what went down at City National Arena on Thursday.
Mark Stone returns to the ice in a red no-contact jersey
The Vegas Golden Knights got some terrific news on the Mark Stone front on Thursday. They saw their Captain return to practice in a red no-contact jersey, bringing more offense to the fold. That's big for the Golden Knights, who've only scored 13 goals in their last seven games. On top of that, they've only scored one first-period goal in that span.
Now, it remains to be seen whether he plays against the Penguins on Thursday, per Jesse Granger of the Athletic. However, the news is helpful as the team gets a key contributor back into the mix. That's especially true with Vegas's recent offensive woes, where they need someone to score.
Keegan Kolesar looks to bounce back after having a goal taken away against the Edmonton Oilers
Everyone knows Keegan Kolesar as the unequivocal practice god. He's known for putting together incredible handles on either Adin Hill or Akira Schmid, making him a potent lower-line player. That was apparent at Thursday's practice as the winger geared up for a game against the Penguins.
He's also looking to rebound in a big way after having a goal taken off the board on Sunday. An offside play prevented Vegas from getting on the board against the Oilers (Hanifin eventually scored). What better way to bounce back than by having a strong game against Pittsburgh?
Watch for Mitch Marner on Thursday
The Golden Knights Olympian has had a storied history against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He's got five goals and nine assists in his last 11 games against the Penguins, making him a dangerous weapon in Thursday's game.
Marner looked fresh and ready to roll on Thursday, skating alongside Pavel Dorfoeyev and Tomas Hertl. If the Golden Knights want to turn around their offense, having Dorofeyev and Hertl emerge will be vital.