Ivan Barbashev has added plenty of hard-hitting to the Vegas Golden Knights' top-six. This season, he has 137 hits, making him one of the most imposing physical figures on the team. His teammates noticed this on Sunday, with Keegan Kolesar telling the media about how he led the charge.
"I thought Barbashev led the way and everyone followed suit."Keegan Kolesar
We're talking about eight hits in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Utah Mammoth. Eight! Like, Barbashev was rocking players like JJ Peterka, Ian Cole, and a whole litany of prehistoric elephant-types.
In turn, it energized a Golden Knights team into a third-period comeback that doubled up Utah, sending the sad "clubbers" home unhappy. On the other hand, it sent Las Vegas residents home with the biggest smile on their faces, giving Vegas a 1-0 advantage in the series.
Could this be the energizer bunny that the Golden Knights need? Who knows. But one thing's for certain: Barbashev is setting the tone for a team that is suddenly picking up steam at the right time. That's bad news for teams like the Mammoth, who are relying more on finesse and speed instead of experience and physicality.
Why Ivan Barbashev's play matters for the Vegas Golden Knights against the Utah Mammoth
Some people were talking about how the Mammoth had the better personnel in the first round series. Looking at younger players like Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther, you'd think that'd be the case. Watching these stars speed up and down the ice certainly makes things tougher to handle for a bulkier team with more physicality.
However, that wasn't a problem for Barbashev and the Golden Knights. Vegas outhit Utah in the game, 51-31, punishing a young Mammoth team into oblivion. In turn, it led to Utah breaking down in the third period, creating critical errors that swung the favor in Vegas's favor.
That type of play serves the Golden Knights well for the long-term. The Mammoth are entering the playoffs for the first time, with numerous players like Keller and Logan Cooley not having much experience in late April and May. What better way to soften them up than by punishing them along the boards?
That could lead to greater things and serve as a testament to what the Golden Knights want to do throughout the playoffs. Vegas has struggled with maintaining an edge up until now, mailing in games and coasting through the season. However, Barbashev's hard-hitting and fast play will be the sparkplug that gets the Golden Knights going, leading them to greater things. Perhaps Stanley Cup No. 2 could be in the works?
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