Life hasn't been easy for the Vegas Golden Knights before the 4 Nations Face-Off break. You went on a 14-game stretch of 3-8-3 before winning two straight games. Suddenly, the Edmonton Oilers have catapulted themselves to the top of the Pacific Division. That pesky McHoleysocks is at it again, folks.
Some players have gone on cold streaks in recent memory. For example, Ivan Barbashev only has four assists since returning from an upper-body injury on January 11. The Russian winger has gone on a cold streak that even Jack Eichel can't cure. In turn, it's left the team hanging dry in five-on-five situations.
It's also players like Keegan Kolesar who haven't done much. The winger hasn't scored a goal since January 12, only notching three assists. The good news? The boys are rested up and ready to take on the NHL. Historically, March has been kind to the team with an overall record of 59-32-6. Sometimes, it takes some resting of the weary body to play better.
Saturday's opponent will provide a tough test, though. The Vancouver Canucks have earned points in seven of their last 10 games. Despite some challenges that include J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson fighting, the team has pulled themselves back into the Stanley Cup playoff race. Therefore, all hands are on deck for a tough divisional battle. But one player must bring his A-Game against that divisional rival. Otherwise, it'll be a long night.
Watch for Ivan Barbashev in Saturday's game against the Vancouver Canucks
As mentioned, the Russian winger hasn't had much success since returning from an upper-body injury. He hasn't done much with his shots and scoring opportunities. In fact, all 25 of his shots since his return haven't resulted in goals. Even with a superstar like Jack Eichel on his line, Ivan Barbashev has struggled offensively.
That's why he's the X-factor for Saturday's game against the Vancouver Canucks. If he gets off to a quick start and scores a goal, he can build the confidence to carry him through the rest of the season. Sure, scoring 15 goals and 19 assists sounds nice. However, going on a 3-8-3 run between January and February is partially on him.
Luckily, he's well-rested and can get back on the right track. The Canuks are also middle-of-the-road in goals allowed per game (three goals per game), giving the 29-year-old an ample opportunity to build that confidence. Of course, it doesn't have to be a goal he scores that gets him feeling better. Take this hit on Jalen Chatfield a year ago as a perfect example.
Ivan Barbashev absolutely NAILS Jalen Chatfield 😵💣 pic.twitter.com/apyvTfWDt5
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) February 18, 2024
Sometimes, it takes a hard check to help a player feel good about themselves. It helps them feel faster, stronger, and harder on the ice. That leads to an empowered player making the most of his scoring opportunities. Luckily, Barbashev has 83 hits this season, closing in on 1,000 for his career (he currently has 988 entering Saturday's game).
The Vegas Golden Knights have relied on a heavy dosage of Jack Eichel (19 goals, 50 assists) throughout the season. While that's fine and dandy, his partner in crime must carry the load himself. That means getting involved in every play, winning every puck battle, and doing whatever it takes. If he does this on Saturday, expect the Golden Knights to bump up that winning streak to three games.