Not everything is perfect in the Vegas Golden Knights realm. You must have some jokes and punchlines to go to as a hockey fan, after all. For example, the Golden Knights don't do well on Eastern Conference road trips. It doesn't matter if it's playing at Nationwide Arena against the Columbus Blue Jackets or at Madison Square Garden.
That would consist of awful entries with countless turnovers and short-handed goals on the power play. It also consisted of six-goal nights from the opposing team, leaving Las Vegas fans in a funk. In short, it has been a laughingstock of sorts among the fanbase.
However, it seems this trip is going the way of the power play: A former punchline turning into a positive. This time, the Blue Jackets suffered their seventh home loss this season, losing to Vegas by a score of 4-0. It started with a two-goal first period, thanks to a record-breaking performance by--who else?--Jack Eichel.
The @GoldenKnights are out here playing a little tic-tac-toe! ❌⭕️ pic.twitter.com/AjNl0FT7px
— NHL (@NHL) March 13, 2025
A simple back-door feed to the Quebec native scored the game's first goal. It was also the first shot on goal for the Golden Knights, snapping them out of a funk stretching for a couple of games. Brandon Saad followed that up with a backhander in the first period, extending the lead. It also helped that Adin Hill was strong for another game, ensuring Bruce Cassidy's ears were safe from any... cannon fodder. Stopping 27 of 27 shots for your fourth shutout certainly helps.
The rest, as they say, is history. It offers an encouraging sign that things will be different from previous road trips. That's especially true since Vegas took down an Eastern Conference team in the playoff hunt. One can say this could kickstart another solid road run, leading them to a Pacific Division title.
The next two games for the Vegas Golden Knights are against non-playoff contenders
Looking at the next two opponents, it appears that the Vegas Golden Knights have two gimmes. That consists of the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday and the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. Buffalo has lost seven of their last eight games while Detroit has lost six of their last seven heading into Thursday.
The Edmonton Oilers are in the midst of a four-game road trip of their own. The only difference? Connor McDavid and company are in a New York "state of mind," sans Jay-Z. They're taking on teams such as the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. These clubs have Stanley Cup playoff aspirations of their own, making life harder for Alberta's chosen squad.
Throw in the fact that the Oilers have lost seven of their last 10 games coming into Thursday and it presents a "golden" opportunity for Vegas to separate. The Sabres are looking ahead to next season and the Red Wings are trying to salvage whatever hopes they have of a playoff run. Getting a big win over the Columbus Blue Jackets is a solid statement.
If Jack Eichel and company can take care of business this weekend, the Golden Knights are in good position
There's something to be said about great teams and how they win games they're supposed to win. Whenever the opportunity to beat on lower competition presents itself, you take it. That means Jack Eichel, Brandon Saad, and the gang can't play down to the competition.
That's especially true when your division rivals are in a funk. Add in the fact that they're on a four-game road trip themselves and the stars are aligning. No longer is the joke centered around the Golden Knights playing bad on the road (specifically against Eastern Conference teams). Now, it has a chance to be buried alongside the power play narrative.
Both opponents lack viable goaltending, leaving a deep forward group to feast. Look for Eichel and Mark Stone to energize the fifth-best attack heading into Thursday's game (3.34 goals per game) for the next two contests.
But will the Golden Knights capitalize? If Thursday's game against the Blue Jackets was any indication, it could happen. Having the next two games against middling opponents can bury those jokes for good.