We're closer to the finish line, folks. One more day until hockey returns and all is right in the world. Did your fantasy team let you down because some dude who gets off to an old Western movie gets all the fantasy luck? No worries, because Jack Eichel is here to soothe your soul. Maybe Eichel can beat him for you.
The best part? He works great from home, as proven by the 179 points he recorded as a Golden Knight at T-Mobile Arena. Hey, he wasn't lying when he said it!
Since the anticipation is leaving all of us super-excited, let's start with the first three games of the 2026-27 season. The Golden Knights will play their traditional Opening Knight matinee against the Chicago Blackhawks (cue Chelsea Dagger) on Tuesday, ushering in the Autumn season for Las Vegas. But they'll also take on the Anaheim Ducks at home on Friday and the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday in British Columbia.
What does the first week hold for Vegas? Will they slip on the proverbial banana peel or will they be saved from any humiliation? Let's dive into the upcoming week and see what's on deck!
Sept. 29 vs. the Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Bedard will miss the season opener and the Golden Knights play at T-Mobile Arena, as is tradition. Vegas is 7-1-1 all-time in home openers, making them one of the toughest outs in the league to start the season. That should come into play on Tuesday, where fans are supercharged to see the team kick off a new year.
It looks like a slam dunk that Vegas should win this session against the Blackhawks. After all, it IS tradition to win on Opening Knight, right? Gotta send the people home happy, especially after what happened in the Stanley Cup Final.
Oct. 2 vs. the Anaheim Ducks
Perhaps the toughest game in the first week, merely by default. But that's not dunking on the Ducks since they were a playoff team last season. Superstars like Jackson LaCombe, Leo Carlsson, and Cutter Gauthier are tough outs for any team. That should be no different this season as Anaheim looks to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
But they also have noteworthy absences. Jacob Trouba went to the San Jose Sharks and Chris Kreider was cut as he went to the Montreal Canadiens. Those absences could prove fatal for the Ducks on Friday, as the Golden Knights hope to start their revenge tour on the right foot.
Oct. 4 at the Vancouver Canucks
Remember when I said that the Anaheim Ducks would be the hardest game of the three? Well, the Vancouver Canucks are possibly mailing it in for the 2026-27 season. There aren't many redeeming pieces on the team and they're projected to finish at the bottom of the Pacific Division.
The one saving grace is that this game is on the road, which could swing things in their favor. But this game should be in Vegas's favor as the season rolls past the first week. If not? Well, that's trouble in paradise.
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