Two assists in four Stanley Cup Final games. That's all Jack Eichel has as the series is tied, 2-2. The Vegas Golden Knights would like a little bit more from their franchise face, especially if they wish to put away the Carolina Hurricanes once and for all.
But that hasn't stopped Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella from believing in his franchise player. In fact, he gave his ringing endorsement of Eichel before Game 5 on Thursday against the Hurricanes.
"If there’s one guy I’m not worried about, it’s Jack. He gets it, and he accepts responsibility."John Tortorella on Jack Eichel
The good news is that Eichel knows that he's currently in a rut. The gold medalist wasn't afraid to call out his own poor play before Game 5, stating how he needed to contribute more and add more offense to his style.
"It's been ok. You always want to be better. You are always going to be your harshest critic and I'm definitely mine. I always believe I can play better and contribute more."Jack Eichel
Golden Knights fans are hoping that this is the case on Thursday. They're looking to take a 3-2 lead back to Las Vegas and close everything out on Sunday. Of course, that starts with Eichel carrying the load.
Mitch Marner can't be the only Vegas Golden Knights superstar who drags the team to the finish line
Much can be said about how Mitch Marner has carried the Vegas Golden Knights throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs. He has 29 points (10 goals and 19 assists) and is the Conn Smythe favorite. That included a remarkable hat trick in a wild Game 3 win.
Funny enough, Eichel is second in the points total with 20. That sounds nice and all until you look at how many goals he has. The gold medalist only has two goals this postseason, leaving fans to wonder where the beef is.
What better way to do that than by butchering the Hurricanes on Thursday? Eichel has the ultimate chance to cement his legacy game for his career, putting him atop the Golden Knights hierarchy. But how can he do that, you ask?
Well, remember when I talked about how Eichel needed to shoot the puck more? Believe it or not, that still rings true here. He got off to a decent start in Game 4 by firing off three shots on goal. However, maintaining that momentum is a must if he wants to win big.
Of course, this was somewhat similar to the 2023 performance, where he scored just six goals. Still, Eichel can't pass up that momentum he has from Game 4. The objective is still the same from Tuesday's performance.
Attack the net more, don't pass up the open look, and be aggressive. That should be on Eichel's mind if he wishes to get off the goalless snide. The Golden Knights will thank him dearly if he can do this, especially if they win Game 5.
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