Life feels pretty good for the Vegas Golden Knights right now. You're rolling into Saturday's matchup against the Nashville Predators with a six-game winning streak. On top of that, you're in first place in the Pacific Division. What more could you ask for (a Stanley Cup, please!)?
Indeed, Mel Brooks. But in this case, it's good to be the Golden Knights.
That's why fans are suddenly feeling great about themselves. Whenever the team starts thriving, everyone is in a good mood. The players are feeling great about themselves and even the coach has a smile on his face. I mean, how often do you see Bruce Cassidy happy?
Not often, which is why this is a special time for Las Vegas right now. The Olympics are coming up and fans will get to see Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Mitch Marner represent their home nations. Don't forget to add a pinch of Tomas Hertl and Akira Schmid to the mix! That way, your product tastes muy bueno for Milan!
So, let's look at the week in review and see what's poppin' off in Golden Knights land. I can tell you that there's plenty of good news to go around (in January, no less!), which is exactly what the doctor ordered. Once the players start returning from injuries, there are plenty of reasons to believe that this team will thrive come playoff time.
Jack Eichel is having the hottest January known to mankind
Five goals.
Nine assists.
That's the statline for Jack Eichel (entering Saturday) in January this season. Mind you, we're only halfway through the month, meaning there are plenty more points to be had from the superstar center. That included the game-winning goal to complete a 6-5 overtime comeback win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It's safe to say that this hasn't been your typical January for the Golden Knights, who are suddenly 6-1-1 in this season's iteration. They're finding ways to win and are quickly racking up points. All of this points back to the superstar center leading the charge.
Adin Hill has a rocky Vegas Golden Knights return on Thursday
On the other hand, you have Adin Hill, who was "sus" (as the kids used to say). The Calgary native stopped 23 of 28 shots and was bailed out by his superstars, Eichel and Tomas Hertl. Three of those goals came in the first period and not all of them can be blamed on his teammates.
The good news is that Hill has a grace period, given that he's turned it around in prior seasons. The bad news? Fans are already watching closely, with some already turning on him. If his fortunes don't turn around, well, he's not going to feel like a king in Sin City.
The Golden Knights' stellar January could turn sour in a moment's notice
Aside from the surprising Nashville Predators coming to town, the Golden Knights must also contend with another daunting task: tackling another East Coast trip.
That consists of games against the Ottawa Senators, the Montreal Canadiens, the Boston Bruins, and Mitch Marner's return to Toronto. It's going to be a moment forever etched in time, marking a monumental turn in the Golden Knights' season.
It could also turn January into a sour month, especially when you're facing the Canadiens and the surging Maple Leafs. Therefore, there's no better time than now to shore up things on Vegas's end, ensuring that everyone picks up the slack.