Who would've thought the last preseason game between the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks would have plenty of goals? Young stars like Pavel Dorofeyev (three goals, one assist) and Alexander Holtz (one goal, one assist) were the key contributors for the Golden Knights. Despite that, the Golden Knights lost against a heated rival, 6-5, closing the preseason with a barnburner.
Vegas got off to a physical start, outhitting the Sharks by a count of 10-5 in the first period. While the Golden Knights were more physical (they ended with a 19-13 hits advantage), San Jose used finesse and alertness to keep pace. Those two attributes would help in the third period, where the Sharks would score three unanswered goals.
The result was a comeback victory for the rival team, giving them temporary bragging rights. But as Drew Carey says, the points don't matter.
Still, there are a couple of takeaways from tonight's high-scoring contest between the two enemies. One line stood out for Vegas, contributing a bulk of the scoring. There are some tweaks the Golden Knights must make as well, including the closing moments of the game. Let's dive into the positives and see what Golden Knights fans can look forward to for the season.
Could Bruce Cassidy go with a line of Tomas Hertl, Alexander Holtz, and Pavel Dorofeyev?
The bulk of scoring from the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday came from one particular line. This line was anchored by a former San Jose Sharks star with three assists. It also had two young stars Pavel Dorofeyev and Alexander Holtz, who provided hope at the wing position.
If you haven't guessed already, it was the line of Hertl, Dorofeyev, and Holtz. The trio combined for four goals and five assists, giving the Golden Knights plenty of juice. They also created countless scoring opportunities, with Holtz's goal being a prime example.
What a pass below the goal line from Tomas Hertl and Alex Holtz is not going to miss from there.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) October 6, 2024
Another play that is exactly what VGK hope to see when drawing up these lineup combos.
The creativity and energy fed from each player is a promising sign for the Golden Knights heading into the regular season. Having Hertl as the savvy veteran to lead the group gives fans hope that they can replace lost production from stars like Jonathan Marchessault and Michael Amadio. It could also cause problems for opposing teams, who suddenly must deal with three offensive studs.
Other things to watch for with the Vegas Golden Knights
Once again, the Vegas Golden Knights looked solid on the power play. They scored once on three opportunities, giving fans reason to believe in the unit. Mark Stone and Tomas Hertl look comfortable in the unit, creating havoc with their bodies. If this group continues to improve, Vegas will finally have a powerful power play to give opponents trouble.
Of course, there are some tweaks the Golden Knights must make. For example, there must be better exits, which would've prevented the San Jose Sharks from tying the game late. The team can't get complacent later in the game, either. If that happens during the Stanley Cup playoffs, that'll result in lost momentum... and a lost series.
However, Vegas looks promising in some offensive aspects, including the power play. It's on to the regular season, where the Golden Knights will face off against the Colorado Avalanche on October 9. The action ensues at T-Mobile Arena, kicking off the eighth season in franchise history. As for Saturday's game? Well, at least the points don't matter.