They say revenge is a dish best served cold. For the Colorado Avalanche, they're hoping to serve it a mile high against the Vegas Golden Knights.
If you don't recall what happened the last time these two teams faced off, it was the season opener. The Golden Knights, led by Jack Eichel's four assists, doubled up the Avalanche, 8-4. Tomas Hertl also notched an assist in the opener, helping chase Alexandar Georgiev.
Speaking of which, he'll be a potential focal point of the upcoming matchup (he probably won't start either). He's been subpar to start the season with a GAA of 3.49 and a save percentage of .871 in 13 games. There have been calls for change in the net, whether it's Justus Annunen (3.23 GAA and a save percentage of .872 in 11 games) or an option to trade.
It presents a "golden" opportunity for the Golden Knights to continue their offensive hot streak. They've won their last three road games, scoring 14 goals (one in a shootout) in the process. They're also 6-1-1 in their previous eight road contests, turning them into one of the most challenging road teams.
But that isn't the only talking point Golden Knights fans should watch for. There's also the battle of two Hart Trophy candidates, Eichel and Nathan MacKinnon. That will bring plenty of eyeballs to the Warner Brothers network known as TNT. But what will be the main things to watch for in a rematch between the two teams?
What else should Vegas Golden Knights fans watch for?
As mentioned, the main attraction will be MacKinnon and Eichel. When two megastars collide, it'll make for a marquee matchup that's appointment viewing. Last year's Hart Trophy winner and NHL leader in points (35) will take on one of the representatives in the 4 Nations Face-Off, who's tied for third in points (34).
But the MacKinnon/Eichel battle won't be the only war fought. There's also the battle of the power plays. The Golden Knights have the third-best unit in the NHL (30.9%), while the Avalanche have the fourth-best (29%). Whoever has the best penalty kill will take control of the game on special teams.
In turn, defense won't be advised in this matchup. Both the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche fall under the "Offense+" and "Defense-" spectrum in this chart (courtesy of JFresh Hockey).
5v5 xGoals For vs. Against - November 24 pic.twitter.com/7Bny1cz4U9
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) November 25, 2024
Considering the Avalanche have goaltending issues and the Golden Knights aren't solid defensively, that'll mean plenty of scoring opportunities. It'll mirror the season opener, where it'll come down to who the better goaltender will be. It should favor the Golden Knights, specifically if Hill's starting in net.
The 28-year-old has been much better in net, stopping two goals per game in the last four contests. He's also got a save percentage of .918 in that span, indicating a significant turnaround in his game. If he's starting and has another solid performance, the Golden Knights will add an exclamation mark on their successful road trip.
The Golden Knights are hoping they don't fall victim to the revenge aspect. They want two more points to silence critics skeptical of their early success. The Colorado Avalanche aren't easy to beat, especially with solid forwards like MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen (14 goals, 32 points). If the Golden Knights can get those two points, it'll go a long way in putting those cranky skeptics to bed.