When you've played hockey since the start of the season, you need some form of rest. The wear-and-tear of playing in a competitive 4 Nations Faceoff tournament can grind on you, leaving you laboring down the road. Bruce Cassidy knew this and is giving his players much-needed rest.
That started with Jack Eichel, who was day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He missed Tuesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche and might miss an additional game against the Seattle Kraken. It looks like 100 points is out of the question. He wasn't the only player out, though.
Alex Pietrangelo and Nicolas Hague also missed Tuesday's action with illnesses. Of course, not having Tomas Hertl for the trip (upper-body injury) was another player to add to the pile. But the Vegas Golden Knights were surprisingly good against the Avalanche.
They were up 2-0 at one point, constricting the Avalanche and preventing their movements. That started at center ice and left Colorado stuck in the neutral zone. They might've lost the gam, 3-2. But it was a strong effort by an undermanned team.
But back to the injuries for a second. Some fans might be worried about losing Eichel in Tuesday's contest and understandably so. He's having the best season in Golden Knights history (27 goals and 93 points) and has been instrumental in various facets. That includes a better top line in transition and the league's best power play heading into Tuesday (29.7%).
It was only a matter of time before players got some rest
Let's be honest. Eichel needed some rest after the rigorous 4 Nations Faceoff. Dealing with an upper-body injury on a nightly basis can wear you down. Not having a point in four straight games is proof of that. Why not give him some rest and let him prepare for the playoffs?
Yes, there's the ongoing joke that injury designations last longer than they should for the Golden Knights. Nicolas Roy and William Karlsson are perfect examples of this, where they've seen maintenance days turned into month-long affairs on injured reserve. However, the circumstances feel different.
Eichel hasn't had much time to rest after that midseason tournament. He's taken endless abuse from incoming pucks and hits, leaving him in a more vulnerable state. Fans have also noticed this with Pietrangelo, too. He's gotten some days of rest alongside the 4 Nations superstar, healing up before the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Who else should Bruce Cassidy and the Vegas Golden Knights rest?
How long Jack Eichel will be out remains to be seen. He could be out for Thursday's game against the Seattle Kraken. He could also be out for Saturday's competition against Jonathan Marchessault and the Nashville Predators. But one thing's certain. He needed some time to heal, even it's at the expense of hitting the century mark in points.
Who knows? You might see Mark Stone get some time to rest as well. He also played in the 4 Nations Faceoff and has put in a tremendous amount of work. The same goes for Adin Hill, who started five straight games before the last road trip. Preparing for the Stanley Cup playoffs also means giving these superstars some rest.
Cassidy knows this and isn't shying away from having his players take time off. After all, nothing is guaranteed in the Stanley Cup playoffs. You could have the biggest upset bring you down and send you golfing early. That could come in a freak injury or a sudden suspension.