The good news for Vegas Golden Knights fans is some players are picking up the slack scoring-wise. Jack Eichel has scored in seven straight games (five goals, five assists) and Tomas Hertl has scored in 10 straight games (eight goals, six assists). With all the worries about the team slumping, it's a promising sign that things are turning around for the Golden Knights.
Now comes the hard part: Getting the rest of the team to turn around with it. Before last Thursday's win against the St. Louis Blues, Ivan Barbashev didn't have a single point since he returned. Now, he's getting back on track, notching three assists in his last four games. The good thing about the Russian left winger is he plays alongside Eichel, who's known to elevate his linemates.
But there's a team in town that's facing off against the Golden Knights on Thursday. This gang of blue hockey players hail from Columbus, which is an odd combination if you're a college football fan. The name? The Columbus Blue Jackets and they're hunting for a playoff spot. They're battling teams such as the Tampa Bay Lightning (55 points, tied with the Blue Jackets in the Eastern Conference), Ottawa Senators, and Boston Bruins (both have 56 points).
Still, that shouldn't deter Eichel and the Golden Knights from taking down the hockey club from Ohio, right? There's a greater mission at hand for Vegas: Bring another Stanley Cup back to the city of Las Vegas. With that, let's play "Hell's Bells" (get it? Because Columbus has AC/DC as their goal horn, partially) and dive into the prediction.
Why the Vegas Golden Knights will win on Thursday
Let's make one thing clear. The Columbus Blue Jackets stink on the road this season. They have a record of 7-14-4 with a goal differential of -27. Their play away (Rhymes Like Dimes!) stinks worse than a post-Taco Bell fart. Believe me, those can induce you to vomit if you smell them.
Combine that with the Vegas Golden Knights being spectacular at T-Mobile Arena this season (19-6-2) and this should be an easy game for the Golden Knights. Vegas has a goal differential of +30 at T-Mobile Arena, making them one of the toughest matchups in the league. Throw in an ascending Jack Eichel (16 goals, 48 assists) who's closing in on the single-season franchise record for assists and this should provide a breather before the team heads to the East Coast.
Given that Columbus is also the hockey equivalent of a glass cannon (+1 goal differential this season) despite scoring 169 goals, this could turn into a high-scoring affair. Kirill Marchenko (20 goals entering Thursday) has emerged as an excellent scoring option for the Blue Jackets. He's gotten plenty of help from players like Zach Werenski (16 goals, 54 points) and Sean Monahan (27 assists), who've turned up the offensive production.
If Vegas can find a way to neutralize the Blue Jackets offensively, that should make Thursday's game a breeze. That means physical hits from Ivan Barbashev and controlling all three zones. Columbus has plenty of scoring depth on all four lines, which could cause problems for whoever plays in net for the Golden Knights. Lockdown defense with plenty of blocked shots and clogged lanes will make life easier.
The Golden Knights have done an excellent job bringing their offense back to prominence during the homestand. Names like Tomas Hertl (19 goals, 21 assists) have stepped up to the plate, generating offense at every turn. A big win against the Blue Jackets goes a long way in getting them on the right track before the 4 Nations Face-Off. That way, they can return to taking over the NHL and leave the league... "Thunderstruck." Prediction: 4-2, Golden Knights