Ah, the second round. It's a testament to making it past the fringe players and moving closer to the Stanley Cup. That's no different with the Vegas Golden Knights, who moved to this beautiful place after blowing out the Utah Mammoth on Friday.
So... what's next for the Golden Knights?
Are you ready to go "Under The Sea," dear reader? Are you singing "Hakuna Matata" and did you "Let It Go" with the Utah Mammoth? A Disneyland trip awaits as the Golden Knights are heading to Anaheim to face the Ducks.
That's right, you're getting more magic from an Orange County hockey squad than a short Romeo High School grad who somehow scored against the Minnesota Wild. Names like Leo Carlsson, Chris Kreider, and Jackson LaCombe are ready to provide Anaheim with a fairy-tale ending by vanquishing the Golden Knights.
So, how can the Golden Knights defeat the Ducks and give them a... plot twist? Well, these three Golden Knights will certainly have something to say about it. After all, they're either looking to carry the last round's momentum over, build some confidence, or shake some demons.
1.) Nic Dowd
It remains to be seen when (or if) the Vegas Golden Knights will get William Karlsson back. If he returns to the ice, that would be a massive pickup for a team needing as much star power as possible. Until then, a similar-style player must step up and take the load off its shoulders.
Enter Nic Dowd.
Dowd has numerous similarities to the Original Misfit. He's good at taking face-offs, is a key penalty killer, and does excellent work defensively. He also sparked a fourth-line revolution in the first round, scoring two goals. He will be vital for sparking another revolution against the Ducks and advancing to the Western Conference Final... if he doesn't end a Duck's life.
2.) Carter Hart
The first round was a bit of... Jekyll and Hyde for Carter Hart. We're talking about spectacular performances in Games 1, 2, and 6, only to be offset by paltry outputs in Games 3 and 4.
The result? A GAA of 2.72 and a save percentage of .898.
What Hart will the Golden Knights get in the second round? Will they get the goaltender who couldn't defend shots at his ears? Or will they get the butterfly-aficionado who steals a game or two for the Golden Knights?
3.) Tomas Hertl
Now, Hertl's postseason struggles with the Golden Knights have been well-documented on here. He only has two assists this postseason, with both coming on the power play. However, now would be a great time to get that going.
The Golden Knights center could use a bit of a confidence boost in the playoffs, especially since his Vegas residency hasn't gone well at this time. Goals haven't come across his stick and the Czech Olympian is starving like he hasn't seen a meal in a soup kitchen. Let's change that against the Ducks, shall we?
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