Despite a 14-6-3 record and 31 points entering Friday, some critics were writing off the Vegas Golden Knights. They said they hadn't beaten any quality teams this season, pointing to lackluster games against the Washington Capitals (twice), Carolina Hurricanes, and Toronto Maple Leafs as examples.
"These Golden Knights haven't proved themselves yet! HMPPH!"
"They're not a legitimate Stanley Cup contender until they beat a top team."
Well, it seems Brett Howden (two goals, including the game-winner) and Ivan Barbashev (also two goals) have heard enough of this silly banter. They willed the Golden Knights to a crucial 4-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, 4-3. By the way, Howden broke his career-high of nine goals on Friday.
Sure, there was no Connor Hellebuyck in net. But the Jets have found ways to win without relying solely on the two-time Vezina Trophy winner. For example, they had the league's best power play entering Friday's matchup (33.8%). They also had the third-best offense in the NHL (3.91 goals per game).
Names like Kyle Connor (13 goals, 28 points; DOUBLE CONNOR!) and Mark Scheifele (12 goals, 26 points) have catapulted the Jets to being the fastest team in NHL history to 15 wins. So when the Golden Knights improved to 15-6-3 (33 points) while dropping the Jets to 18-6-0, you can get excited all you want. That's especially true when you've won your seventh straight game against the Jets.
The Jets fell to 3-5-0 in their last eight games while the Golden Knights are 4-0-1 in their last five. Not bad for a team that's still missing key players like Mark Stone and Victor Olofsson. That certainly offsets the other team missing Hellebuyck, specifically when you've dealt with other players such as Zach Whitecloud being out of the lineup.
What's next for the Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets?
The Vegas Golden Knights can't rest their laurels just yet. They have a home game tomorrow against the Utah Hockey Club, another Central Division club. The "Hockey Club" hasn't been as decorated as the Winnipeg Jets this season; they have a record of 9-10-3 entering Friday's contest against the Edmonton Oilers (21 points). On paper, it looks like an easier matchup for the Golden Knights.
Meanwhile, the Jets will play the last game of a six-game road trip against... the Dallas Stars.
Pete DeBoer's club will provide a tough test for the Jets on Sunday, where big names like Wyatt Johnston (12 points) and Matt Duchene (12 goals, 14 assists) await. Coming off a grueling 4-3 loss to the Golden Knights is never fun. It's even worse when playing a Stanley Cup contender like the Stars two days later.
There might still be some persistent whispers about the Golden Knights not having a legitimate win against a top-tier club.
"Oh, ThEy DiDn'T hAvE cOnNoR hElLeBuYcK iN nEt."
While that's true, the Jets still had the heavy hitters in Connor and Scheifele out. There were also notable names like Nikolaj Ehjers and Josh Morrissey. Still, the Golden Knights stopped the big names from breaking out tonight, beating... the best team in the NHL. It wouldn't have been possible without Brett Howden and Ivan Barbashev stuffing a sock in the mouths of their critics.