The first Rookie Faceoff game was a defensive matchup, where the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Los Angeles Kings, 2-0. It consisted of goals by Braeden Bowman and Jakub Brabenec, with the power play looking better. But Sunday's game was a stark contrast to the blue-line dominated play seen by hockey fans.
Instead, they were treated to a 5-3 contest in favor of the Golden Knights. Their adversary was the Seattle Kraken, favoring a fellow team recently entering the NHL. For hockey fans who love offense, amazing puck movement, and chaos, this was the game for them. Offense was common throughout the contest, leaving the fans in awe of the solid puck movement and control.
It's a promising sign for fans watching the prospect challenge, considering they're worried about the team's long-term offensive output. You start looking for younger replacements when you lose a franchise leader in almost every historical category. In turn, those new forwards should make fans forget about the legend, giving them hope for a prolonged competitive window.
At least, that's the hope. Golden Knights fans only care about the logo on the jersey front, whether it's the star center or the forward. Yes, it might seem like a harsh reality regarding loyalty (see Marc-Andre Fleury). However, it's how Kelly McCrimmon and crew won their first Stanley Cup.
Getting players committed to winning will yield wonderful results, especially if your goal is to contend for a Stanley Cup every season. Yesterday's Rookie Faceoff game against the Seattle Kraken proved this with an offensive onslaught. Here are three takeaways from yesterday's match.
The Vegas Golden Knights rookies can figure out ways to win
Friday's game against the Los Angeles Kings showed the Vegas Golden Knights prospects can win a defensive contest. Behind Jesper Vikman and Carl Lindbom's combined shutout, they could handle business if goals were at a premium. Sunday proved they can also tackle a shootout.
The Golden Knights jumped to a four-goal lead with goals coming from prospects such as Jakub Brabenec and Villam Kmec, putting them in a comfortable position. Even as Seattle started a comeback, it was too late. Vegas put the game out of reach with a Matyas Sapovaliv empty net goal, giving them the victory.
If the Golden Knights rookie can handle any situation put in front of them, it'll make the future brighter. They can tackle any scenario without hesitation, whether it's a shootout or a dry spell game. That should bode well for the team's future mentality-wise. Speaking of the team's future...