Predicting Wednesday's matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs

It's not easy being one of the most polarizing NHL franchises. The Vegas Golden Knights are seen in a similar light as the Kansas City Chiefs. Jack Eichel (23 assists, second in the NHL) is essentially Hockey Mahomes, creating magic with the hockey puck. There's also the accusations of Gary Bettman helping the Golden Knights, whether it's the LTIR rules or the referees "paid" to help Vegas.

There's also the head coaches, with Bruce Cassidy and Andy Reid revered as one of the best. You also have your excellent sidekicks, ranging from Travis Kelce to Mark Stone. The similarities are aplenty, which isn't surprising considering both franchises are atop their respective leagues.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs are... the Dallas Cowboys. They're one of the most recognized sports franchises in the world, yet they always fall short. That's in spite of having superstars like Auston Matthews or Ceedee Lamb (Dak Prescott doesn't count here, sorry). They have disappointed fans across the globe reacting like this in the first round.

Still, they've had regular-season success in the past few years, making them one of the teams mentioned in potentially winning a championship. Yet, those chances end up in a toilet after eating $20 worth of Taco Bell.

These two teams will collide on Wednesday, where the Golden Knights will start a five-game road trip. Who has the edge heading into a matchup that most others hope both teams will lose? How do they stack up against each other?

The tale of the tape: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

One thing that stands out with the Toronto Maple Leafs is they take plenty of penalties. They're 11th in total penalty minutes entering Tuesday (172). While their penalty kill has been good (eighth in the NHL at 83.8%), the Vegas Golden Knights have had an excellent power play (second-best in the NHL at 34%).

The Maple Leafs will watch their penalty kill tested throughout the night, with big names like Tomas Hertl and Jack Eichel leading the attack. Will they survive the Golden Knights onslaught? Or will the road team pounce on the mistakes from Toronto?

There's also the injury bug, which both teams are dealing with. The Golden Knights just placed Ben Hutton on LTIR and Mark Stone on injured reserve. They called up Cal Burke and Mason Morelli, adding some Silver Knights power for the upcoming trip. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have seen some players absent themselves. That includes Auston Matthews (undisclosed) and Max Pacioretty (lower body).

Which team's depth will shine the brightest? That'll be the big question, especially as the game goes on. The best team that handles the wear-and-tear of their respective matchup will emerge the victor. That means superstars like Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner must rise to the occasion.

Who will win Wednesday's matchup?

This game could go either way. The Vegas Golden Knights haven't been the best road team, as seen by their last Eastern Time Zone swing. They only mustered one point from the affair, losing Victor Olofsson in the process. Granted, they're doing better on the road and are riding a two-game road winning streak. However, tougher competition looms.

But looking at the Toronto Maple Leafs, they've been pedestrian on special teams. That includes drawing too many penalties and having an underwhelming power play (19%, 16th in the NHL). Considering they share the same injury bug with the Golden Knights, it'll come down to whoever can control the pace.

I can see Toronto winning this game in a huge fashion, scoring two or three more goals than the Golden Knights. However, I can also see Vegas getting another road victory, especially if Auston Matthews isn't present.

Therefore, it's best to say that it'll be a 4-3 victory in favor of the road team. Jack Eichel has played on another level in the last six games, producing two goals and 10 assists. Again, this could go either way, with the Golden Knights missing key pieces like Mark Stone and Nicolas Hague. However, there should be reason to believe they'll get another big win on the road with Eichel and a red-hot power play.