Have you written a joke so funny that you couldn't help but guffaw at the sheer thought of it? It's like Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights beating the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. It sounds so funny in your head that you're on the verge of peeing yourself (or fart since farts are funny).
Well, the two teams will meet in another tilt on Saturday, where a first-place team will face a last-place team. It'll be another opportunity for Buffalo to boo Eichel as if he was "Hockey Mahomes." Both the quarterback and center do have championships to their name, after all. As for the city of Buffalo? Nothing. It's a cruel irony being in a Great Lakes city that hasn't experienced a professional sports championship since 1965.
It's even worse if you root for the hockey team. A franchise that has watched Brett Hull win the Stanley Cup for the Dallas Stars and missed the playoffs since 2011 hasn't recovered. This is supposed to be a hockey city, filled with memorable legends such as Dominik Hasek. Yet, it's become a terrible joke to the NHL world.
But Golden Knights fans don't care one bit. In fact, they have the opportunity to laugh at the most ironic thing should their superstar not register any points against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. Who knows? Maybe his teammate, William Karlsson, will be there to witness it.
Jack Eichel can break the Vegas Golden Knights single-season points record against the Buffalo Sabres
Eichel and Karlsson are tied for the most single-season assists in Golden Knights history. The "Original Misfit" scored 78 points (43 goals and 35 assists) in 2017-18, leading the expansion team to the Stanley Cup Final. This season, the superstar center is leading the charge with 78 points (20 goals and 58 assists). He already has the most single-season assists. So why not go for another record?
All he needs is a goal or assist to break the Swedish forward's mark. That's it. One. That might be tough against Columbus on Thursday for a few reasons. First, the Blue Jackets are a terrific home team (20-6-4 at Nationwide Arena this season). Having sweet home cooking work in your favor can do wonders. That includes covering up your mediocre defense and goaltending (3.29 goals allowed per game).
So why not go with the next best thing and have the record broken against the Buffalo Sabres? Fans remember the trade between both teams in 2021, where Eichel and a third-round pick went to Vegas. Out went Peyton Krebs, Alex Tuch, and first and second-round draft picks. Sabres fans haven't forgotten about their former superstar leaving town, calling him a "locker room cancer," among other names.
Eichel breaking the record in Buffalo would be hilarious
Considering the Golden Knights are back to getting on slow starts, the record being broken against Buffalo can realistically happen. The Blue Jackets are competing for a playoff spot and will want to give it their all. That's why fans shouldn't expect any gimmes come Thursday, for it will be another tough game.
The Sabres also allow more goals per game (3.48, 30th in the NHL). They've struggled in the goaltender position for years, leaving them vulnerable to being outscored in a stereotypical shootout. Guess who that helps? That's right. The Golden Knights and their offense (3.37, fifth-most in the NHL).
Personally, it'd be hilarious to see the former second-overall draft pick stick it to his former team with a broken record.
"HEY! Remember me? I hold a few franchise records with my new team since you traded me! Joke's on you!"
With everything he's been through with his old club, being the franchise leader in points for a single season would tell all sorts of jokes. In fact, it should open its own comedy club with Kevin Hart having a Las Vegas residency.