Tuesday's battle between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Tampa Bay Lightning will be a heavyweight bout. We're talking about Nikita Kucherov facing off against Jack Eichel and his pursuit of 100 or more points in a season. We're also talking about two prominent figures in the NHL sphere in the current decade.
The Lightning won Stanley Cups in back-to-back seasons (2020 and 2021), while the Golden Knights won in 2023. Add in Stanley Cup Final appearances for both teams (the Lightning made it in 2022, while the Golden Knights made it last season) and it's easy to see why this is the most appealing matchup on Tuesday night.
Everyone will be focused on the stars and who'll shine the brightest for each team. After all, both teams are in the thick of open Stanley Cup windows and want to cash in on another Stanley Cup. What better way to do that than by getting a win on Tuesday?
While it's good to be the kings of the NHL, there's also a statistical component to Tuesday's game. That's right, we're diving deeper into the numbers and seeing what will determine a winner. Let's focus on the Golden Knights and see who's on milestone watch.
Watch for Mark Stone in Tuesday's game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Tampa Bay Lightning
Believe it or not, Mark Stone has a massive milestone to achieve in Tuesday's game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Tampa Bay Lightning. He needs one goal to pass Reilly Smith for third all-time in Golden Knights history. He had a hat trick in Thursday's game against the Calgary Flames and added another on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Currently, Stone sits at 143 career goals with the Golden Knights. He has 12 career goals against the Lightning, although he hasn't scored in his last four against Tampa Bay. Will Tuesday be the day that the Captain gets off the snide and makes history? Stay tuned because this heavyweight battle has bigger implications than people think.
Jack Eichel needs one power play goal for sole possession of seventh place in Vegas Golden Knights history
Yes, I know that seventh place isn't anything to sing home about. You're not even in the top five and you're barely noticeable on the all-time list. However, Jack Eichel is currently tied with Max Pacioretty for seventh all-time in power play goals with 22.
Considering how disastrous 2025-26 in terms of power play goals, Tuesday is a good time for Eichel to get a goal on the board. The penalty kill has actually been one of Tampa Bay's weak spots with a penalty kill percentage at 75% (22nd in the NHL). That could be a prime opportunity for the Olympic gold medalist to cash in on some chances.
Look for him to get some feeds from Stone or Marner in the high-danger spot. If Hertl doesn't get to his spot, that could be the place where Eichel does damage. Eichel will be on goal watch again as the Golden Knights look to attack Tampa Bay on the man advantage.
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