The St. Louis Blues and Vegas Golden Knights share much more in common than one would think. For one, both have had players such as Ivan Barbashev and Alex Pietrangelo win a Stanley Cup for them. There's also that aspect, where the two teams have won titles in the past decade.
You can also go for the low-hanging fruit such as both teams playing in the Western Conference. However, two of the most important pieces for the Golden Knights have also been a part of Blues history. The only difference is Brett Hull isn't drunk in Las Vegas (although that would be hilarious to see).
But enough about the similarities! The two teams have a game to play this week. In fact, they have two matchups consisting of a home-and-home mini-series. The Golden Knights are looking to trend towards being a winning team again, snapping a three-game losing streak in the process. Perhaps home cooking will do the trick? As long as it isn't Taco Bell.
Let's get more details on the upcoming return to T-Mobile Arena. When will it be played? What time will Barbashev and Pietrangelo see their old team on the ice? Finally, what's been happening on the St. Louis side of things? The baseball team hasn't done much to inspire confidence in Eastern Missouri, so what about the Blues? Have they "went?"
Previewing the Vegas Golden Knights and St. Louis Blues, down to the nitty gritty
First come the basics of the Vegas Golden Knights and St. Louis Blues. When's the game being played and at what time? Well, dear reader, the action takes place on Monday, January 20, at 3:00 PM PST. Be sure to beat out the traffic and get there early! The Las Vegas drivers will be punch-drunk, celebrating a day off from work.
But what about the teams themselves? Where do they stand in the NHL landscape? Everyone knows the Golden Knights are fighting for a top spot in the Pacific Division with the Edmonton Oilers. Both teams are tied atop the hierarchy with 61 points. They also know the Golden Knights have struggled recently, losing five of their six games.
As for St. Louis? Well, they've been a middle-of-the-road team with 48 points. Currently, they're three points out of a wild card spot with a record of 22-21-4. They've also played two more games than the final spotholder, the Calgary Flames. That means there's a bigger uphill battle to climb for the Blues.
Jordan Kyrou (20 goals, 39 points) is the main point of offense, followed closely by Dylan Holloway (15 goals, 35 points), and Robert Thomas (11 goals, 34 points). Like the Golden Knights (16.04 giveaways per game, sixth-most in the NHL), St. Louis has struggled to hold onto the puck (16.13 giveaways per game, tied for fourth in the NHL). Therefore, poaching some mistakes will be vital for restoring the Golden Knights in transition.
The action can be seen on the usual channel, Scripps Sports. Here, you can listen to Dave Goucher call the cleanest, crispest game you've ever heard in your life. Hopefully, Goucher will announce a Golden Knights victory as Alex Pietrangelo and Ivan Barbashev vanquish their former team at T-Mobile Arena.