Sometimes, you want to return home for a good meal cooked at home, whether you're on the Vegas Golden Knights or a regular person. That's especially true after a brutal East Coast trip where only one point was mustered. One can imagine how exhausted Ivan Barbashev and company must feel after the long trip.
But the boys are back at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday to take on the Los Angeles Kings. The Golden Knights won their first three games in Las Vegas, netting the team six points. Fans have also watched the offense blossom, where even the power play ranks in the top ten. Who knows? Maybe Kyle Shanahan can take a few pointers from Bruce Cassidy about starting the season hot.
Still, Tuesday's game offers the Golden Knights a chance to reset and forget about jet lag and the Eastern Time Zone. They can finally get some delicious home cooking from Mom and enjoy T-Mobile Arena's various intricacies. That includes Chance, the lovely Vegas Belles, the Vegas Vivas, and the VGK Drumline.
So what's the train of thought going into these games? What are some lessons the Golden Knights must learn to get back on the winning track? It's time to prepare for the work week with some final thoughts. Here's how you can prepare for the boys returning to Las Vegas for a four-game homestand.
For the Vegas Golden Knights, the past is the past
One thing the Vegas Golden Knights must remember before Tuesday is the past is the past. Sure, losing three consecutive games stinks. That's especially true when the Golden Knights surrendered six leads throughout the trip. Keeping a level-headed mentality is key to getting back on the winning track.
Of course, that starts with playing a consistent game. Ilya Samsonov has been phenomenal in his first two starts with the Golden Knights. The expectation is he'll fill the gaps and continue settling into Bruce Cassidy's forecheck-heavy system. As for Hill? It's about playing a full 60 minutes in net. He's had good stretches in each game this season, only to be undone by three or four minutes of loose hockey. The Golden Knights will reap the rewards if Hill can shake off the rust.
Finally, there's the penalty kill. You know you're living in a weird timeline when the Golden Knights have a better power play (29.4%) than their penalty kill (69.2%). Of course, that's been without William Karlsson, who's been sidelined with an undisclosed injury. If the penalty kill can turn things around, expect one of the better special teams groups to reside in Las Vegas.
The four-game homestand will provide the Golden Knights some "golden" opportunities to turn around their fortunes. Players like Ivan Barbashev and Tomas Hertl can get on the right track at T-Mobile Arena starting on Tuesday. Yes, the season is young. But it's never too early (or late) for some home cooking, especially when mixed with plenty of points.