Tomas Hertl was the main star on Saturday night as the Vegas Golden Knights blew out the Detroit Red Wings, 6-3. The Czech native had a hat trick, marking the first time in Golden Knights history that the team had hat tricks (Pavel Dorofeyev had one against the Boston Bruins on Thursday) in back-to-back games.
It was also a record-breaking night for the Ambassador of "Fun Must Be Always." He broke the franchise record for most single-season power play goals, surpassing Erik Haula's 12 in 2017-18. It all started with a feed up front from Mark Stone in the first period.
"Now in front — they score! It's Hertl!"
— Golden Knights Radio (@VGKRadioNetwork) March 23, 2025
"Power play goal! 1-1 tie!"
🎙 @Dan_DUva
Tomas Hertl gets the Knights on the board in the first period. pic.twitter.com/VGzVpcPQVV
Not to be outdone, he also added another power play goal in the second period. Now, he's standing pretty with a record of 14 goals on the unit this season. 2024-25 has been the year of "Fun Must Be Always" as the center has 30 goals.
Saturday's big victory was a masterclass in how to effectively run a power play. Ironically enough, it's been something that's bogged the Golden Knights down. Their best season was in 2019-20 where they converted 22% of their chances.
Of course, the Red Wings also had two power play goals of their own. They were also dominant in this regard entering Saturday's game (28.3%, third-best in the NHL). However, the even-strength breakthrough showed why the conversation shouldn't just be between Colorado and Dallas in the Western Conference.
On a night when Vegas needed to get off to a fast start, they got it with three goals in the first period. That doesn't happen without Hertl, who broke through and showed why 30 other teams, not just Detroit, shouldn't take the Golden Knights lightly.
This is the Vegas Golden Knights offense fans were waiting for
Looking at last Sunday, the Vegas Golden Knights struggled to do anything offensively. They gave the puck away 23 times. On Saturday? They had 19 giveaways. They call that "baby steps." But they also had nine takeaways, offsetting the mental errors.
It was a game where it was an endless array of zone entries for the home team. Throughout the night, players like Tomas Hertl and Keegan Kolesar would blitz Cam Talbot relentlessly.
"When will this end?"
"Oh man, here they come again!"
This endless offensive pressure is what fans needed. That's especially true after an underwhelming road trip that saw Vegas fall flat against these same Red Wings. Suddenly, the Golden Knights look faster and stronger on the forecheck. They're getting sticks out and poaching anything coming their way.
It gets harder after the Detroit Red Wings, though
Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning isn't going to be easy. The Lightning have their own reinforcements coming in with Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde. The good news? They're on the second leg of a back-to-back like the Golden Knights, losing to Utah on Saturday, 6-4.
But there's also Tuesday's game against the Minnesota Wild in a potential first-round preview. That fatigue and breakdown could factor into the game, especially since it's on the road. Considering the Los Angeles Kings (85 points) are hot on Vegas's tail, the Wild shouldn't be taken lightly.
That's why stars like Tomas Hertl and Mark Stone must be at their best. Home-ice advantage is much more crucial than it appears. It determines whether you make the Stanley Cup Final or are eliminated in the first round. Just look at last year's playoff series against the Dallas Stars.
Luckily, the Vegas Golden Knights are clicking at the right time. They're finding their legs in March, showing why teams like the Detroit Red Wings should fear them. Who knows? Maybe Jack Eichel gets a hat trick on Sunday to send a message. That should put the Stars and Avalanche on notice (to name a few).