Vegas Golden Knights fans are thankful they have an owner that stays out of the limelight. Bill Foley is a modest man who owns an NHL team and FC Bournemouth (who's surprising everyone by being in seventh place in the Premier League, by the way). He's not playing a kazoo on KTNV with his band, playing the "blues."
If you don't know who that is, that's James Dolan. Dolan owns the New York Rangers and New York Knicks. He's also well-known for throwing Charles Oakley out of Madison Square Garden and making premature guarantees of winning the Stanley Cup. That's drawn the ire of John Tortorella, who isn't afraid to tell people to shut their yaps.
Luckily, Golden Knights fans won't have to hear the dreaded kazoo when the Rangers come to town on Saturday. After all, they're still reeling from Thursday's terrible 4-0 loss to the New York Islanders. Still, fans will get a kick from seeing Reilly Smith return to his old stomping grounds.
But they'll also be elated to see Ivan Barbashev's expected return. He participated in line rushes on Friday, setting him up for a return after being injured on December 12.
Based on the lines in practice Barbashev appears to be in line to play tomorrow, Roy still needs more time.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 10, 2025
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That's right, Golden Knights fans. Get your emotional support Russians ready because Barbashev is coming back sooner than later (okay, it's been a month). Will he make a serious impact against the Rangers if he plays? Or will Smith get the last laugh against his former team? It's time for another prediction that will go horribly wrong.
Predicting the Vegas Golden Knights and New York Rangers
The focus for the New York Rangers has been how disappointing is. They sit four points out of a playoff spot entering Saturday's contest. That's a far cry from the Vegas Golden Knights, who sit in a three-way tie with the Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets (59 points) for the top spot in the league.
Meanwhile, Reilly Smith will return to T-Mobile Arena with his new team. He's playing at a slower clip than prior seasons, scoring eight goals and 12 assists. The "Original Misfit" could be a trade deadline acquisition if Kelly McCrimmon was interested in some nostalgia, though. Smith would provide winger depth and a veteran presence, replacing the lagging Alexander Holtz.
So what will it take for the Golden Knights to emerge victorious? For one, keeping the puck in control is a must. The Golden Knights struggled to maintain proper puck possession (try saying that three times fast) on Thursday against the New York Islanders. That led to errant passes and turnovers, resulting in a 4-0 Islanders win.
That also means keeping their offensive options in check. Sure, the Rangers are closer to points with the Islanders than the Golden Knights. But Artemi Panarin (17 goals, 44 points) is still playing at a high clip, along with Adam Fox (31 assists). Containing these two players will be key to getting back on the winning track.
While I've picked Vegas to win in the past, I'm going a different route this time. The Golden Knights will get the point, but the Rangers should win in a shootout. Let's say 4-3 in favor of the Blue Shirts, shall we? Still, don't be surprised if the Golden Knights rebound and win the game. That's especially true with Ivan Barbashev in the lineup, which would make the top line whole again.