Playoff hockey is underway, with the defending champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, hitting the ice. Their opponent, the Dallas Stars, isn't a walkover, though. After all, they're the top team in the Western Conference, sitting pretty at 113 points.
However, the Golden Knights have gotten their series in a stranglehold, holding a 2-0 lead against the top dogs in the West. Behind a stellar performance by Logan Thompson, the Golden Knights head back to Sin City with the chance to put the series away for good. With a 3-1 victory in Game 2, life's god for the defending champions.
It was also an uptick in shots for the Golden Knights, with Vegas bumping up their previous total from Game 1 (15). In Game 2? They had 26, which is much more significant than 15. The added offensive pressure generated by the Golden Knights helped them weather an early storm from Dallas for a decisive Game 2 victory. After enduring the shot barrage from the Stars in Game 1, the Golden Knights reeled it in and pitched a better defensive performance.
In a game where goaltending took precedence over everything else, just having that extra goal late in the second period from Noah Hanifin saved the Golden Knights. Yes, that sounds like a Booger McFarland statement. However, it's the truth since goals were at a premium compared to Game 1. That's why the Golden Knights have an incredible system to keep their goaltender upright.
Sadly, the world doesn't revolve around the Vegas Golden Knights, for there are 15 other playoff teams in the NHL. After all, that's why they have the Stanley Cup playoffs. Therefore, it's time to look at the other teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Ugh...
So, what's happening aroun the league? Has there been a former Golden Knight that scored on Wednesday? There's a reason why the Stanley Cup playoffs are so exciting for hockey fans everywhere. It's unpredictable, and every team has a chance to go all the way. Let's jump into some Wednesday "Knight" Wisdom!