Everyone knows about the terrible month known as January in the Vegas Golden Knights realm. They know that the team struggles and the injuries flow like an after-evening Taco Bell binge. While this season has been friendlier to Vegas (8-5-3 record), the upcoming month of March should provide them some relief.
Entering this upcoming month of March, the Golden Knights have an all-time record of 69-34-8. They've dominated the month with players returning and the team getting into postseason mode. In turn, that had led to some deep playoff runs, two Stanley Cup Final appearances, and even a Stanley Cup.
That's good news for Golden Knights fans waiting for the team to finally break out. They've seen Vegas rack up the overtime/shootout losses and underachieve, leaving fans wondering if this is it. I mean, what do you expect when you lose Mark Stone, Adin Hill, and William Karlsson for some time?
However, this upcoming month is vastly different. We're talking about facing some serious competition and seeing whether the Golden Knights are Stanley Cup-worthy. In fact, you could say that this is a test of whether Vegas deserves the Pacific Division, especially with the Anaheim Ducks looming.
Can the Golden Knights continue those good March vibes, despite the schedule getting tougher?
Looking at the all-time March record, you'll see that the Golden Knights have done spectacularly. They've taken control of their play and got key players back. However, this month is shaping up to be vastly different from past iterations.
- March 1: @Pittsburgh
- March 3: @Buffalo
- March 4: @Detroit
- March 6: vs. Minnesota
- March 8: vs. Edmonton
- March 10: @Dallas
- March 12: vs. Pittsburgh
- March 14: vs. Chicago
- March 17: vs. Buffalo
- March 19: vs Utah
- March 21: @Nashville
- March 22: @Dallas
- March 24: @Winnipeg
- March 28: vs. Washington
- March 30: vs. Vancouver
Already, you're seeing big names on this list, including the Edmonton Oilers, the Dallas Stars (twice), and the Minnesota Wild. That's not even mentioning the surprising teams on this list, consisting of the Buffalo Sabres (twice), the Pittsburgh Penguins (twice), the Detroit Red Wings, and the Utah Mammoth.
What's more, the home games outweigh the road games here (eight games at T-Mobile Arena to seven games on the road). That includes a tough four-game stretch where Vegas will face off against those surprising teams.
The Golden Knights must end February on a high note to carry momentum into March
With the upcoming months being brutal, the Golden Knights must end January on a high note. That means leaving Friday's game against the Washington Capitals with a win. That's especially true with the remaining Olympians expected to return to the lineup.
Vegas is already starting a five-game road trip, where they've already hit a high note. Beating the Los Angeles Kings with a limited, AHL-laden roster is always great for starting the trip. However, that's not enough when you're heading into the belly of the beast.
I mean, games against Quinn Hughes, Jason Robertson, and Connor McDavid? Things could head south quickly, like Midwestern families heading to Cancun for Spring Break. Nobody in Las Vegas wants to see the Golden Knights fold like a sopping wet paper bag. Thus, Vegas must win in Washington, D.C. No, it isn't about getting revenge on Logan Thompson, if at all. It's about...