How Ivan Barbashev burned the St. Louis Blues on Friday (and what's to come)

Ivan Barbashev and Alex Pietrangelo are familiar with the St. Louis Blues organization. They won a Stanley Cup with the franchise, giving them one of two championships during their careers (the other being the Vegas Golden Knights). They also know the various players from that 2018-19 team, including Robert Thomas and Colton Parayko.

Both Golden Knights stars would have breakout performances against their former club on Friday. Pietrangelo had an assist while Barbashev scored a goal and assist in Vegas's 4-3 victory. St. Louis couldn't muster another late comeback as the Golden Knights kept them pinned in the defensive zone for a majority of the last two minutes.

But let's turn our attention to the Russian forward for a second. His goal saw him go wide and separate from three Blues defenders, only leaving him and Jordan Binnington. The result? A sneaky backhand that puts Vegas ahead, 2-1. The crowd goes wild as Panic At The Disco plays over the loud speakers.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion has looked comfortable in the top line so far. He's gotten excellent scoring opportunities on the unit, excelling with Jack Eichel and Mark Stone. Both linemates assisted on Barbashev's goal, showing an immaculate sense of hockey intelligence. But there's more to his fast start than simply burning his old team. Here's what could come for Las Vegas as the winger prepares to take the next step.

What did Friday's game against the St. Louis Blues show us about Ivan Barbashev?

One thing that Friday's victory over the St. Louis Blues showed was that Ivan Barbashev benefits greatly from a red hot Jack Eichel. The four-time All-Star dictated the pace of Barbashev's goal, having the Russian forward cast himself wide along the opposite boards. The Blues defenders didn't expect this, which led to the two-time Stanley Cup champion cutting in front of Jordan Binnington for a goal.

Barbashev has a defined role as a speedy wingman, setting up for a fastbreak scoring opportunity in transition. He can maneuver around opponents with minimal effort, staying on the puck until he fires his shot. The chaotic sequence tends to overwhelm opposing goaltenders, as Binnington saw on Friday.

However, he didn't just show this skill set against the Blues. On opening night, he pounced on a seamless pass from Brayden McNabb in the third period. Barbashev weaved through a defender before sneaking a backhanded shot past Justus Annunen for his second goal.

Barbashev is also getting help from the Vegas Golden Knights top line

Let's go back to Ivan Barbashev's goal against the St. Louis Blues for a second. If Mark Stone didn't deliver the backhand feed to the Russian forward, the goal doesn't happen. He knows Barbashev is cutting in front from the entry, so Stone spots him standing before him.

This is part of the top line experience Vegas Golden Knights fans have seen during the first two games. Barbashev, Stone, and Jack Eichel have orchestrated some of the best transition attacks seen in years. Whether it's going wide on the entry or setting up from behind the net, the trio have done an excellent job of feeding off one another's styles.

It's also led to various boons in their respective games, such as Eichel's boosted confidence and Barbashev's newfound purpose on the unit. Fans can expect the group to flourish during the regular season if everyone can stay healthy. That's good news for a Golden Knights team looking for another Stanley Cup for their collection.