Somebody let the Henderson Silver Knights get blazing hot

Nobody saw it coming, yet here we are. Tanner Laczynski returns from the Vegas Golden Knights roster and immediately bolsters the AHL club to new heights. Suddenly, the Hendersons Silver Knights have won four straight games after doubling up the Colorado Eagles on Saturday, 4-2.

Speaking of Laczynski, the forward scored in this game, alongside Kai Uchacz and Ben Hemmerling. In turn, the Silver Knights are in seventh place in the Pacific Division after taking down one of the division's top teams. Seriously.

The Eagles are in second place in the Pacific Division with 69 points. They have a game in hand, despite sitting one point behind the Ontario Reign. But Colorado isn't the only quality team that Henderson has taken down in recent memory. The Coachella Firebirds, who were beaten by the Silver Knights on Thursday by a score of 6-2, currently sit in fifth place in the Pacific Division with 61 points.

Suddenly, the Silver Knights are putting together a product that's actually... respectable. They look like a team with some oomph in their step, getting ready to take on the entire world. Believe it or not, there's actually hope that the franchise can actually do something for a change.

Can the Henderson Silver Knights actually do something of substance this season?

Here's the funny thing about this team: there's actually a good chance that the Silver Knights make some noise in the Calder Cup playoffs. Of course, that starts with a surprisingly good forward group led by Laczynski. The forward has 16 goals and 31 assists this season with Henderson, where he's projected to hit 25 goals and 48 assists, according to Elite Prospects.

If you dig deeper, other promising names reside on the Silver Knights. That includes Trevor Connelly, who has eight goals and 12 assists in 23 games. If he can create that much offensive output in a limited period (he's projected to score 16 goals and 24 assists), imagine what he can do in a full season. Stay tuned and watch for him to get some time with the Golden Knights in the near future (if he's not traded, of course). Don't forget about Kai Uchacz, who has eight goals and 21 assists with Henderson!

Also, you can't forget about Carl Lindbom. I mean, how can you forget about a guy who has a GAA of 2.16 and a save percentage of .926 with the Silver Knights? This season has seen the Swedish goaltender gradually get more exposure at the main level. In turn, it's helped Henderson reach greater heights, especially when the scoring output carries the load.

Could this momentum continue throughout the regular season? Well, the schedule isn't getting easier, considering there are contests against the Reign and the Eagles. But that also includes the Texas Stars, who have 54 points and are sitting in third place in the Central Division.

The moral of the story? Don't expect the ride to get easier. But also, count on this team to lean heavily on their big names to get the job done. After all, what do they have to lose?