The last time the Vegas Golden Knights faced the Florida Panthers, they only mustered 17 shots on goal. To make matters worse, they didn't even score a goal, being shut out by a score of 3-0. It kick-started a rough East Coast trip that left the Golden Knights hobbled.
Mind you, those same Golden Knights are still hurting. They recently lost William Karlsson, who left early in Saturday's overtime loss. Losing other names like Mark Stone and Adin Hill doesn't make matters easier, especially with surging Pacific Division rivals.
However, something has changed. The Golden Knights have actually scored first in the last three games. Ironically, that hasn't done much for them in the last three games, with a record of 1-1-1. In fact, Vegas has scored seven combined goals in that span.
Still, it brings up a crucial point for the Golden Knights: scoring first. Vegas must get the jump on the defending Stanley Cup champions early. That's especially true since Florida's dealing with injuries themselves, missing big names like Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov. Who's one player that Golden Knights fans should watch for here?
Vegas Golden Knights fans must watch for Shea Theodore against the Florida Panthers
This season has been underwhelming offensively for Shea Theodore. The Original Misfit only has five assists in 14 games, marking a massive underachievement from his 50 assists last season (a career-high).
That's not even mentioning how he's creating few rebounds. In fact, he's only created one this season. That's why the defenseman is due for a breakout game with Vegas. Considering that Florida's wounded and desperately needs reinforcements themselves, it'd be wise to bet on the Misfit to produce points.
The good news is that the schedule continues to lighten up after Monday's game. You're facing teams like the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers, making matters more palatable. If the Golden Knights are to beat these teams to regain their footing, it starts with Theodore running the attack.
In fact, one can say that a big game by Theodore can be a much-needed antidote. The Golden Knights defenseman's production has been spotty, leaving fans wondering if he's cashing his checks after a new deal. What better way to silence his critics than by putting up multiple points against the defending champions?