There was once a story about a group of supervillains (at least, in the eyes of the other 31 teams) named the Vegas Golden Knights. They set out on a mission to win numerous Stanley Cups and anger the hockey world, starting on the East Coast.
— Criminalsimpsons (@Criminalsimpson) October 30, 2025
Yep, sounds about right. Imagine if the Golden Knights actually did that on this upcoming five-game swing.
Still, there's a pathway for the Golden Knights to make this happen. Already riding a two-game winning streak, Vegas has something that they've been seeking all season: momentum. Fans are seeing Kelly McCrimmon's big acquisitions pay off, with the Golden Knights finishing their recent homestand strong.
I know! There's actually hope for this team after all. When so many people (and their grandmothers) started picking Vegas as the preseason Stanley Cup champions, it placed all the pressure in the world on them. But a nice two-game winning streak is something that the boys can build on.
With that, there are a few things that must happen in order for the Golden Knights to truly be the bane of everyone's existence. Let's examine some ways that the Golden Knights can make like Victor Von Doom and take over New York City... and the world.
Jack Eichel must be the supervillain that seizes the East Coast for the Vegas Golden Knights
Coming off an incredible November where he rebounded nicely, Jack Eichel is looking for more points. Scoring three goals and 10 assists after a slower start is even more impressive. But, it's also Jack Eichel doing Jack Eichel things.
Still, he must be the proverbial villain that seizes the East Coast on this five-game swing. That means doing what he's already doing and shooting the puck, which he didn't do much of on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks (two shots on goal).
The goaltending must come through for the Golden Knights
Carter Hart was a breath of fresh air on Tuesday, standing strong with 27 of 30 saves. As a result, the Golden Knights get a shootout win and snap a seven-game losing streak when the game heads into extra periods and beyond.
With a more experienced tandem floating around, that means the Golden Knights must be on top of their game. For Schmid, it's using his size and not letting in gimme shots. For Hart, it's shaking off the rust of not playing in nearly two years.
The penalty kill must continue to thrive for the Golden Knights
What if I told you that the Golden Knights were 14th in killing penalties entering Wednesday's slate of games (81.2%)? Would that make your jaw drop to the floor? What if we saw Reilly Smith on the trip?
Okay, 14th place isn't exactly something that will excite fans. That's more along the lines of being in the middle of the pack. However, the upcoming slate of power plays should do the job.
Only the New Jersey Devils had a power play in the Top Ten entering Wednesday's slate of games (fifth in the NHL at 25%) among the teams on Vegas's five-game trip. That should provide ample opportunities for the Golden Knights to feast.