The last time the Vegas Golden Knights played a back-to-back game, it ended in utter disaster. Ilya Samsonov allowed six goals on 28 shots, including four in the first period. The result? A 6-0 disaster for the home team, suffering their largest loss in franchise history.
They're facing that same scenario on Wednesday as they head to Disneyland to face the Anaheim Ducks. The Golden Knights are coming off a defensive stand, defeating the Edmonton Oilers, 1-0. Ivan Barbashev scored the game's only goal in the first period while Adin Hill pitched a 28-save shutout.
But the same circumstances are in place for Wednesday's game. The Golden Knights are coming off a huge home victory against a solid team. They're also in a back-to-back situation that could be a case of deja vu.
After all, the Ducks have been a tricky team to gauge this season. They have nice goaltending with John Gibson (GAA of 2.49 and a save percentage of .922 in six games) and Lukas Dostal (GAA of 2.73 and a save percentage of .921 in 15 games). Therefore, it's expected that the Golden Knights will have their hands full.
But when you have a team of Jack Eichel and company, along with Mark Stone returning on the horizon, everything should be solid. What should fans expect from Wednesday's matchup between the two Pacific Division teams?
Keep the net in mind for the Golden Knights
Saturday's game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Hockey Club was a class in what not to do from a backchecking standpoint. There were bad clears by everyone, including Ilya Samsonov. There were also 23 giveaways that contributed to a flurry of scoring opportunities for Utah.
That can't happen again against the Ducks. The Golden Knights must take better care of the puck and not get reckless. Utah had plenty of young, fast skaters who moved the puck well. The Ducks can do the same thing if Vegas isn't careful.
One player to watch for on the Ducks side is Troy Terry. The team's leading scorer (six goals, 13 assists, 10.5% shooting percentage) has become more confident with shooting the puck himself. He takes the initiative and has excellent hockey sense, acting accordingly as the play unfolds.
He'll be the key player to stop for the Golden Knights on Wednesday. The 27-year-old scored the lone goal for the Ducks on October 13, blasting a shot past Samsonov on a breakaway. That's where taking care of the puck comes into play. Giving Terry another opportunity to capitalize could be the energy injection Anaheim needs, leading them to a victory.
In fact, he's been the hot hand for the Ducks in the past four games. The forward has scored seven assists in that span, getting Anaheim four points along the way. If the Golden Knights can shut him down, that'll help their prospects of winning the back-to-back tremendously.
Some things in life aren't fun. That includes doctor visits, hour-long meetings, and back-to-back games. The Golden Knights will try to turn this into a positive on Wednesday by coming up with two points. Otherwise, it'll be an awkward trip to Disneyland, where the photo op with Ariel will feel... weird.