The vibes are extremely high within the Realm right now. The Vegas Golden Knights are first in the Pacific Division with a record of 7-2-0 and 14 points. Jack Eichel is on a tear with 16 points (five goals and 11 assists), which is good for second place in the NHL entering Saturday.
It's almost like Ryan Craig isn't feeling the pressure at all. It's like he's been with the organization since day one (he has) and understands how the team functions. When you have a coach that's well-respected within the organization and he handles such pressure well, it does wonders for a team looking to keep its Stanley Cup contention window open.
It's also like the front office knows what it's doing. On the attendance front? Maybe not since everyone's going through the struggle. Just ask the Los Angeles Dodgers, who entered the NLCS as the two-time defending World Series Champions and couldn't fill Dodger Stadium. Must be the $50-$100 parking and expensive concessions.
But that's a discussion for another time. Anyway, I woke up, went on the toilet to take care of business, and am ready to roll. Let's look at the week that was for the Golden Knights and see what happened. I think you're going to love what's on tap.
Mark Stone explodes for a hat trick against the Calgary Flames
Ladies and gentlemen, this wasn't any ordinary hat trick. It was a NATURAL HAT TRICK! It also happened in the third period and it accounted for half of the Golden Knights' offense in a decisive 6-2 victory.
Believe it or not, this isn't the most famous hat trick that the Captain achieved. He also notched a hat trick in the closing game of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, contributing to a 9-3 blowout. Let's just say that the Manitoba Maniac knows what he's doing on the ice.
Parker Wotherspoon is out on a week-to-week basis with an upper-body injury
Now for some sadder news. The Golden Knights found out that they will be without defenseman Parker Wotherspoon on a week-to-week basis. The reason? Upper-body injury.
Here's the thing about Wotherspoon. He hasn't been the most effective player on the ice for Vegas, totaling -0.3 point shares. His pairing with Rasmus Andersson has also left something to be desired. The Swedish Olympian had a breakout week, scoring a goal and two assists. Maybe the former Penguin can bounce back when he returns?
Ville Heinola bounces back and forth between the Golden Knights and the Henderson Silver Knights
First, Ville Heinola was called up by the Vegas Golden Knights after Victor Olofsson went down with an injury. Then, he got sent down to the Henderson Silver Knights a few days later. Then, he got called up again the next day.
It's probably one of the most bizarre (and the funniest) things you'll ever see as a hockey fan. But Heinola might get some playing time this season if the injuries mount up. Watch for him around the ice.
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