Vegas Golden Knights scouting report on a division rival with the Vancouver Canucks

How the Vegas Golden Knights can defeat the Vancouver Canucks during the season

One thing that stood out between the two teams was who scored first. The team that scored the first goal in all but one game won the matchup, finishing with a 3-1-0 record. Getting the jump on a tough Canucks team will be key for the Golden Knights to get to the divisional top again.

There's also the Demko factor to start the season. How long will he be out, if possible? There are concerns he won't be ready for training camp, which will affect his availability and his performance. There's such a thing as being game-ready compared to being athletic. If you're not game-ready, you'll lag behind.

That could provide an advantage for the Golden Knights for Vancouver has had their problems without their Vezina finalist. They were 15-9-7 without him, which exposed some issues in the Oilers series. How can you win against offensive juggernauts when you don't have your best goaltender? That's especially true when he posts a GAA of 2.45, a save percentage of .918, and five shutouts.

That could hurt Vancouver and leave points on the board. That's a golden opportunity for teams like the Golden Knights and Oilers, who want to claim the Pacific Division's top spot. After all, every point matters when you're fighting for the division title. With players like Noah Hanifin boosting the offense, that could make a difference.