Ladies and gentlemen, there has been some misfortune happening in our world. No, it's not that the Vegas Golden Knights didn't have five Olympians for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Kings. It's that Smiling Friends is ending.
That means no more Charlie Dompler and no more Pim. It's sad to see the Adult Swim show suddenly end, especially since it was so popular. However, it's a sign of the times, where corporations make more questionable moves (not Vegas, though).
Of course, this was the same feeling that Golden Knights fans had on Wednesday. They were short five Olympians, ranging from Jack Eichel to Mark Stone to Mitch Marner. Still, that didn't matter as the Golden Knights defeated the Kings, 6-4. Pavel Dorofeyev had two goals, with Ivan Barbashev, Brandon Saad, Colton Sissons, and Reilly Smith adding goals.
On the other end, Adrian Kempe received a nice pass from Artemi Panarin to give the Kings a 2-1 lead in the second period. Quinton Byfield also scored on a controversial goal in the first period, where fans questioned whether he kicked the puck in. Byfield added another and Brandt Clarke also scored, leaving Golden Knights fans on the edge.
Still, Wednesday was a unique game for Vegas. Players were absent for various reasons, whether they were at a State of the Union address or simply resting in Las Vegas. But it doesn't matter because Vegas won. So let's look at the Golden Knights on this peculiar Wednesday and see what stood out.
What I loved about the Vegas Golden Knights's performance against the Los Angeles Kings
Golden Knights fans were impressed by how their team was outshooting the Kings after the first period, 8-6. Considering you're missing five Olympians for this contest, that's quite an incredible accomplishment. We're talking about Brayden McNabb (who's back!) doing toe drags on Anton Forsberg. But that wasn't the only great thing about the Golden Knights on Wednesday.
They also had one giveaway in the first period. Taking care of the puck has been a massive problem this season, with Vegas having the most giveaways per game (16.58) entering Wednesday. But they were much more careful with their passes, ensuring that they could keep the puck away from Los Angeles.
Considering that Los Angeles had trouble holding onto the puck, fans can only imagine what would've happened if Vegas had a full team. No, I'm not trying to sound like a bitter Canadian after the gold medal game. The Golden Knights warranted that question with solid puck-moving and shooting.
What I didn't like about the Golden Knights on Wednesday
While the offensive zone time and pressure were nice, you must finish your opportunities early. Vegas struggled with that on Wednesday, missing on some "golden" (no pun intended) chances to cash in in the first two periods.
Granted, the Golden Knights were down an entire line and a defensive pair for the night. Wheneve you don't have play-drivers like Eichel, Marner, or Stone, life will always become more difficult. The goals also came pouring in during the third period, where finishing wasn't a problem.
But American hockey fans saw what happens when the goals don't pour in on Sunday. You don't have Connor Hellebuyck to bail you out, meaning that you must finish your opportunities. That's especially true against a beatable netminder like Forsberg.
Grading the short-handed Golden Knights against the Kings on Wednesday
Whenever you've rested up from an Olympic break, you're ready to take on the world. Charged with all the energy in the world, the play moves faster and you're able to move faster and attack more. That was the case for Vegas, which was resourceful with what it had.
Alas, Wednesday also showed what happens when you don't have your best players on the ice. No Eichel or Stone until late meant a lack of finishing. Still, you must admire their effort against Los Angeles, considering the circumstances.
Therefore, you gotta give the Golden Knights a ton of credit here. They didn't back down and played like a team with plenty of depth. Sissons contributed a backhander and players like Saad had plenty of opportunities.
Could that be a sign of things to come for Vegas? Who knows. But one thing's for certain. Wednesday's game shows plenty of promise, not just on the road trip. It gives fans hope that they can turn it up before the Stanley Cup playoffs.