Erik Haula is back in and Marc-Andre Fleury will once again take the baton as the Golden Knights host the reeling Oilers tonight. Brendan Leipsic will sit out.
Gerard Gallant noted, "They cycle really well. They put pucks behind the goal line. They've got big, strong guys to get the puck. [Even] McDavid picks it up, he's hard on the cycle. Lucic, Maroon, Draisaitl, they go hard to the net. That's a big part of their game.
"They're a tough team to manage in the defensive zone. A lot of strong cycle plays. A lot of resets behind the net."
Despite Edmonton's struggles this season, they have managed to beat Western Conference-leading Vegas in their first two meetings.
Gallant also noted that Connor McDavid is probably the fastest player that he's ever seen carrying the puck, but added, "Obviously, Pat LaFontaine and Denis Savard were in a different era."
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Yesterday, the Golden Knights trained with Cirque du Soleil performers. It was a good way to break up a long homestand and season.
Vegas Director of Sports Performance and Head Athletic Trainer Jay Mellette, who came from Cirque, said as much:
At this point of the season, it's a grind.What we're trying to do, we're trying to find time for recovery. Recovery really matters at this point of the season. We're trying to get the boys out of their element. Get them into an experience where it's safe, it's fun, it's unique, and they're moving their bodies in a different way.
Hope is, they can take that as rejuvenating energy.
There are no hula hoops or bands hanging from our ceiling. (laughs) I'll have to talk to [Strength And Conditioning Coach Doug Davidson] about that. I would love to incorporate it if we could.His experience is general [has been great]. But nothing that has come from Cirque de Soleil yet.
My sister has kind of been a hero.When I was 16, I was complaining because I had a month of practice [coming up]. She was 12. She told me, "I have two weeks off the whole year." Seven days a week, seven hours a day. What I'm doing, when I come to the rink for four hours, it's nothing.
She was at the Olympics because of what she did. It's a great inspiration to me.
So a lot of the things we did today, I've done before. Hope I make her proud.
Jay Mellette says Cody Eakin most likely to transition into Cirque post- playing career. He adds, "Definitely not Nabber." #VegasBorn
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 14, 2018
Players shout at Karlsson in air, "He's an angel!" "Valkyrie!" #VegasBorn
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 14, 2018
Senior Cirque trainer Dan Niehaus jokes none of the #VegasBorn players should quit their day job (he wasn't really joking)
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) February 14, 2018
Nate Schmidt... Jedi Acrobat* pic.twitter.com/oiWbxTwxBE
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) February 14, 2018
Flower is a natural. #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/cIiSmGtGnI
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) February 14, 2018
Brayden McNabb: Master @Cirque Juggler #KA pic.twitter.com/Aufko7WwPc
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) February 14, 2018
Less than 24 hours after taking a puck to the knee, James Neal decides to fly.
— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) February 14, 2018
Marchessault: “How stiff are you?…
Neal: “STIFF.… pic.twitter.com/EY1RT2KV8G
Good catch by Bellemare “This is a f.... Unbelievable feeling. I feel like god right now.… pic.twitter.com/fs0qrmE4YQ
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) February 14, 2018
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