The Vegas Golden Knights AHL squad dominates the Colorado Avalanche A-Squad, 6-1

Imagine this scenario, dear reader. You're going into a preseason game against the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche have heavy hitters such as Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar, and Hart Memorial Trophy winner, Nathan MacKinnon, in the lineup. What's a team like the Vegas Golden Knights to do? Should they play their own veteran lineup, consisting of Jack Eichel and Mark Stone?

You toss out Brendan Brisson and a group of aspiring Henderson Silver Knights onto the ice. Sure, it seems like a surprising move for a hockey team, especially when facing a team that hoisted Lord Stanley a few seasons ago. Plus, it's a preseason game. It's meant to see who has staying power on the roster. Still, Vegas pulled off a surprising 6-1 win that would even shock Stone and Eichel.

Led by Brisson's goal and assist, the Golden Knights thrashed the Avalanche as the drama surrounding final roster spots heated up. Zach Aston-Reese also had two goals, while the two Tanners (Pearson had a goal, while Laczynski had a goal and assist) continued their pursuit of a full-time position.

But what were some of the takeaways from tonight's massive preseason win over Colorado? Who's one step closer to achieving a roster spot for Vegas? Tuesday's win provided fans with some insight into what to expect in the upcoming week. Here are the shining stars for the Golden Knights against MacKinnon's crew.

Takeaways from the Vegas Golden Knights 6-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche

Brendan Brisson was the most impactful player on the ice for the Vegas Golden Knights. Aside from scoring a goal and assist, he also made smart hockey plays. That included drawing a tripping penalty on Calle Rosen in the first period, a stark contrast to his preseason play in prior games. In fact, Brisson's impact can be highlighted by his dominance on Tuesday.

Another impressive player against the Colorado Avalanche was Tanner Laczynski. The forward continued his pursuit of a finalized roster spot, putting up two points and winning 50% of his face-offs (a team-high). The race gets even tighter with Aston-Reese's contributions on Tuesday, with Bruce Cassidy deciding between a litany of players.

However, one bright spot also came in the net with Akira Schmid. The fact he stood toe-to-toe with superstars like Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar and stopped 27 of 28 shots is impressive. He won't be in the Golden Knights's goaltending mix much this season. But it should give Cassidy consideration of who should start in the net in the future.

Overall, it was a strong night that showcased the Golden Knights's overall depth. Sure, the prospect pool isn't as riveting as the Detroit Red Wings or Anaheim Ducks. But it's a promising sign that Vegas can weather any injury storms heading their way. That's especially true if they must face a Hart Memorial Trophy winner in MacKinnon again.