They say familiarity breeds contempt, where people are tired of seeing the same things over and over again. The Vegas Golden Knights have seen the Colorado Avalanche twice in the past week and will face them in the season opener. Will they hate them as much as the Detroit Red Wings did in the 90s and 2000s? Probably not.
However, they might be tired of seeing them again. Players like Noah Hanifin have extra incentive to beat the Avalanche, especially with points on the line. Getting a win would go a long way in getting the Golden Knights on the right foot, especially with the team looking different from prior years.
Putting things in perspective, Vegas has started off hot in the past two seasons. They started 2022-23 with a 13-2 record before winning the Stanley Cup. A year later, they got off to an 11-0-1 start, making the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons.
It's an overstated remark. However, winning the season opener is paramount to Vegas having success against the competition. It has them feeling good, building their confidence throughout the season. Yes, one might say that there are 81 other games to get two points if they lose the opener. However, winning the first is as important as winning the last.
Prepping for the Vegas Golden Knights opener against the Colorado Avalanche
The season opener against the Colorado Avalanche has historical implications. The Vegas Golden Knights can join the San Jose Sharks (seven from 2010-11 to 2016-17) and Detroit Red Wings (six from 1999-00 to 2005-06) as the only teams in the past 20 seasons to win at least six straight openers.
The @NHLBruins, @Canes and @GoldenKnights have each won their past five season openers dating to 2019-20. Read the 🧵 below to see key moments during each team's run. #NHLFaceOff
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 6, 2024
More Season Openers #NHLStats: https://t.co/KYu8qwEjwh pic.twitter.com/dgYgvORHi1
As for the Avalanche, there are plenty of reasons why they'll be a tough team. For one, they boast a strong forward group, led by Hart Memorial Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon. The seven-time All-Star scored 51 goals and 89 assists last season (140 points), providing the bulk of Colorado's offense.
Other stars such as Cale Makar (21 goals, 90 points) and Mikko Rantanen (42 goals, 104 points) give Colorado fans reason to believe they can make another Stanley Cup run. The team has strong lines from top to bottom, giving other teams pause when facing the Avalanche.
However, there's one weak link Golden Knights fans should watch for. Last season, Alexandar Georgiev was subpar, posting a GAA of 3.02 and a save percentage of .897 in 63 games. Sure, he was 38-18-5 during that span. However, that's what happens when you have a strong scoring unit in front of you.
What will the Vegas Golden Knights do to win?
The Vegas Golden Knights saw the power play unit take massive strides during the preseason, giving fans hope that the unit changed. Having a lifetime percentage of 19.6% doesn't cut it in the NHL. Therefore, Kelly McCrimmon added Noah Hanifin to the mix (with Tomas Hertl) last season, bolstering the unit. Special teams success will be key to the Golden Knights beating the Avalanche.
Also, how will the Golden Knights adapt to possibly not having William Karlsson around for the opener? The "Misfit" was out with an undisclosed injury, leaving his status for October 9 up in the air. If he doesn't make it, there will be an opportunity for a younger forward (Alexander Holtz or Brendan Brisson?) to step in. That could help Vegas pull off an opening victory.
Ladies and gentlemen, we're one day away from Golden Knights hockey returning. It's a glorious time to be alive, where fans don't have to worry about watching their hopeless NFL teams struggle. Big names like Hanifin and Hertl will bring hope to the franchise, with visions of a Stanley Cup dancing in their heads. The Avalanche hope to steal those images and get another title back to Denver.