Have you ever had a pleasant surprise show up on your doorstep? Sometimes, that comes in the form of an unexpected victory against the Los Angeles Kings. That might even come in the form of your DoorDash order with those delicious tacos from your favorite restaurant.
That has been the case for the Vegas Golden Knights in recent weeks. They've seen their depth scoring explode, with players like Reilly Smith and Colton Sissons step up. It's a promising sign for Vegas, who's seen its fair share of struggles throughout the 2025-26 season.
Consider the circumstance for a second. Vegas is down five players (!) and doesn't have a hope of winning... at least, on paper. They have a shaky goaltender who's trying to return to form and all hope is lost. It seems like a recurring theme for the 2025-26 season, doesn't it?
Wednesday's game was no different, as players like Sissons and Smith carried the scoring. What's more surprising is that Adin Hill had a relatively off-night for Vegas. That meant that the depth scoring had to be there or else the Golden Knights would've had their "scheduled loss" prepared. So much for being "top-heavy."
Who's been shining the brightest for the Vegas Golden Knights?
One player who quietly had an incredible game on Wednesday was none other than Tanner Laczynski. The AHL All-Star had three assists against the Kings, adding two shots to the mix. That's better than a typical night for Jack Eichel, where he gets a point or two! Getting that type of product before going back to Henderson is valuable in many ways.
Speaking of AHL guys, Braeden Bowman has thrived since being called up from the Henderson Silver Knights. The undrafted rookie has seven goals and 15 assists this season, stepping in nicely for an injury-riddled roster. It's safe to say that he's secured his long-term roster spot after an incredible showing in 2025-26.
But what about the veterans? Well, there's Reilly Smith, who has five goals and three assists since the New Year started. That included a two-goal performance against the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 8th, which gave the Golden Knights, well, two points. In fact, the Misfit has picked up his scoring since he had a slow October, scoring nine goals and seven assists since that month.
Even the defensemen have gotten involved in some capacity! Ben Hutton has six goals and nine assists this season, providing key scoring when Vegas needed it most. That included a four-goal December, where the Golden Knights got five points in games that he scored in.
Heck, even Jeremy Lauzon has had a nice offensive showing for Vegas. Normally, Vegas's resident meathead is known for his hits (he has 171 hits this season). However, he also has nine assists (a career-high) and is projected to hit 13 assists this season.
Sometimes, it takes depth scoring to carry your team to greater heights. Whenever your team isn't functioning properly in other areas (i.e., the goaltending), you need something (or someone) to step up and fill the void. The Golden Knights have that with their depth players, seeing names like Smith and Bowman step up. Who knows? Maybe the depth guys can step up during the Stanley Cup playoffs.