3 takeaways from the Vegas Golden Knights preseason victory over the San Jose Sharks
Yes, it's only preseason. However, the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks squared off in a preseason tilt. What takeaways are there from Vegas's victory?
The Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks don't like each other. That much is true. The two fanbases can't help but chirp at one another when they see each other in public. It's like the Hatfields and McCoys going after each other. You can't expect both parties to get along, especially since this involves hockey.
It's fitting that both teams would play each other in the first preseason game of the 2024-25 season. The Golden Knights doubled up their bitter rivals, 4-2, which saw Macklin Celebrini score a goal. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft looked solid, burying a wrist shot from the point in the third period.
Still, Vegas held off a late rally by their foes, withstanding the barrage by capping the game off with an empty-net goal by Tanner Pearson. The former first-round pick channeled his inner Jonathan Marchessault and put the game out of reach, getting the season off on the right foot. Brett Howden also scored a goal with a great backhand move, putting the Sharks in a deep hole.
With the victory comes the takeaways, some good and some bad. Fans will notice some great things from specific players progressing in their NHL careers. Others? Not so much. Who stood out in the Golden Knights's 4-2 victory? What can be improved before the regular season starts? Let's dive into the three takeaways from the preseason victory.
Cal Burke was the player of the game
Fans might've been paying attention to Macklin Celebrini for obvious reasons. For one, they want to see what the No. 1 overall pick could do. They hoped he'd pull off incredible magic and lead the San Jose Sharks to victory. While the Boston University product did score a goal and an assist, his team lost, 4-2.
Instead, Cal Burke started the scoring effort for the Vegas Golden Knights. He scored a goal and killed a penalty in the first period. Overall, the prospect played great in all three zones, providing a harmonic balance for a Golden Knights team looking for more forward depth. That's promising in the young star's development, where he looks to secure a roster spot for the long term.
He's projected to be an AHL player at best this season, where a roster spot is not happening. After all, the Golden Knights appear set at the right wing position. However, he's shown he can build off this and become a viable depth player if needed. That could help Vegas during the regular season, specifically with hard-working players like Burke taking the reins.
Could Brett Howden take on more responsibilities for the Vegas Golden Knights?
Brett Howden also had a nice game for the Vegas Golden Knights, adding to the scoring in the second period. He fired a backhand shot past Mackenzie Blackwood, giving the Golden Knights the 2-0 lead. It was a promising sign for a journeyman player looking to crack the fourth line (minimum) for the upcoming season.
Breakaway Brett 👌 pic.twitter.com/pPe1TjaFgB
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) September 23, 2024
It begs the question of whether the forward will expand his role with the team or get a line bump. He's shown himself capable of handling tougher assignments, with Howden coming through when needed. His strong game on Sunday demonstrated this, with his goal on Blackwood being a shining example.
Currently, the forward is projected to play on the fourth line with Keegan Kolesar and Nicolas Roy. It's not on the same line as Eichel. Still, it's a good situation for Howden to be in. He could bolster the line with his breakaway skills and penchant for coming up big in key situations. It could help the Golden Knights throughout the season, giving them bottom-six production.
What was happening with the Knighttime Plus app?
You're finished watching football for the day and getting ready for preseason hockey. You need something to take your mind off the Las Vegas Raiders getting embarrassed by the Carolina Panthers. You go to your Knighttime Plus app and fire it up. There's nothing like a free game, so why not take this opportunity to see your favorite NHL team in action against Macklin Celebrini? But there's a small problem: The app isn't working.
Vegas Golden Knights fans had trouble watching the first preseason game against the San Jose Sharks. There was some trouble with fans in the Henderson area getting access to the game, where they were out of range. Some couldn't see the first period and Cal Burke had an excellent period. Luckily, the app was fixed before the end, giving Golden Knight fans time to catch the rest of the game.
While this was a preseason game, it did serve as a minor inconvenience for diehard hockey fans. Fans will be even more irate when the regular season starts and this happens, when things matter. Still, the good thing is there were no points involved, meaning there's time to work out the kinks and get hockey back to the masses.
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