Losing a home game during the Stanley Cup playoffs can be deflating for a team. Suddenly, home ice shifts to the other team. They have some momentum heading their way and they can do whatever they please. Some Vegas Golden Knights fans are sweating bullets after Tuesday's terrible loss at T-Mobile Arena.
And why wouldn't they? They love their team and expect to win as many games as possible. Realistically, winning 16 straight hockey games is nigh impossible. Heck, even going for the series sweep is hard to do. That's why not many experts and analysts are keen on going for the four-game picks.
The good news for Golden Knights fans is that the series isn't over yet. It's tied. The Wild don't have the series lead and must win three games like Vegas. Now, it's a best-of-five series instead of seven. Be sure to stock up on your paper bags and breathe into them, Las Vegas. There's still plenty of hockey to be played.
Still, let's turn our attention to playing on the road for a second. It's a tough task to pull off, especially during the Stanley Cup playoffs. Thousands of fans are screaming in your ears and will explode if the home team scores.
Let's look at this on a larger scale, though. How has Vegas done in the other team's barn? Have they fizzled under the pressure of those thousands of screaming fans? Or do they have an excessive buildup of earwax that tunes everything out, helping them win games?
How the Vegas Golden Knights have done all-time during NHL playoff road games
Vegas Golden Knights fans will feel comfortable knowing their team's a solid group of road warriors. Overall, they have a road record of 25-21 during the Stanley Cup playoffs. That's good for a winning percentage of. 543. How have they done yearly, though?
Playoff Season | Road Record |
|---|---|
2017-18 | 6-4 |
2018-19 | 1-3 |
2019-20 | 5-4 |
2020-21 | 4-5 |
2022-23 | 7-3 |
2023-24 | 2-2 |
Obviously, 2018 and 2023 stand out as the benchmarks for Golden Knights road success. These were the two seasons when Vegas went on a deep run. There's also the 2020 COVID season, which had its own set of "road games." Even last season's early exit was a successful campaign regarding road wins.
Ironically, the 2021 season wasn't the best season for playing on the road. It was a season below .500, which also made home-ice advantage paramount. It was also the season the Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild faced off in the first round, with Vegas winning in seven games.
What this means for the Golden Knights against the Minnesota Wild
The most important takeaway is to win at least one road game. If you can grab two in St. Paul, that's even better. But get one win to swing home-ice advantage back in your favor.
If you want further context on how Minnesota has played at Xcel Energy Center, they're 22-17-2. Bizarrely, their road record (23-13-5) is much better than their home record. That shouldn't shock Golden Knights fans as much after the Game 2 debacle.
Still, the objective is clear. 2023 is a thing of the past and it's time to make more history. That starts with stealing one game at Xcel Energy Center on Thursday or Saturday. If you can grab both, that's even better. This has been an incredible season for Golden Knights fans so far. It would be a shame to see it go to waste because of not playing with enough passion.