What's impressive about the Vegas Golden Knights isn't that they beat the back-to-back champs last night.
With more losses than wins so far this season, these Penguins are not among the league's best right now.
What's impressive is that the Golden Knights once again asserted their style of play on a quality opponent.
"We talk about playing fast hockey. That's one of the fastest teams in the league," said Gerard Gallant. "We played our game."
By controlling tempo for much of this 2-1 win, they authored, according to the coach, "One of our best, complete games of the year."
Much like the victory against Chicago, Vegas visibly outplayed a top-heavy team with an outsized reputation. The Blackhawks, like the Penguins, have been inconsistent.
This might sound like I'm discounting the Golden Knights' win last night. I'm not.
The Knights have established that they aren't a cellar-dweller. For the most part, they've proven their superiority over the likes of Arizona, Buffalo, Colorado, Vancouver, and Ottawa. They've had off games, but everybody does.
Neither are they a bona fide Cup contender. Triumphs over St. Louis and Nashville were somewhat fortunate, as the opposition more or less controlled play in those contests.
It's the victories over Pittsburgh, Chicago, Los Angeles, Winnipeg, Boston, and Anaheim which have been more telling. Like the Golden Knights, these are flawed but highly competitive rosters which Vegas outperformed from the drop of the puck. Even losses to Toronto, New York, Minnesota, and Boston demonstrated that this group can more than hang with the middle-class of the league. They might even be considered upper middle-class.
In other words, decent, good.
It's not an upset anymore for Vegas to beat a Pittsburgh or a Chicago. The Golden Knights belong in the conversation with these teams.
For sure, they lack transcendent stars like Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, or Kris Letang.
But do the Knights have a competitive group of top-six forwards? (They do.)
The ability to roll four lines and three defensive pairings? (They do.)
A relentless style of play with enough speed and skill and effort to execute it? (They do.)
Reliable, sometimes spectacular goaltending? (They do.)
Vegas is 20-9-2. I believed that they were roughly a .500 team in October. They've blown that projection to smithereens, but even a .500 points % for the rest of season nets them 93 points.
That's 51 points in 51 remaining games. For a team which has banked 42 in 31 up to this point, that seems reasonable, even with many tough road contests in January and February.
Since the advent of the shootout in 2005-06, the average cut-off for the playoffs is 93.3 points. As of tonight, eighth in the West (Chicago) is on pace for 94.8 points. The Knights are going to be right there if George McPhee hangs tight.
As they have all season, I think they're going to make history.
You're going to win games when Bellemare line can pin Crosby line down like this (great stick by Engelland to keep it in) #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/1DOzGzx0St
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 15, 2017
But this aggressive incursion was successful on many levels.
First, Engelland prevents Crosby from building speed. Second, Vegas takes the puck out of Crosby's hands, which is always preferred. And third, the defender actually forces the turnover, which kills time. Oh, and Oscar Lindberg and Tomas Nosek almost cash in on some quality chances.
This is a terrific example of the five-man forecheck, which is a staple of good Vegas hockey. While it can be dangerous for a defenseman to pinch that low -- imagine what happens if the puck gets behind the defense -- if the blueliner makes the right read, you prevent the opposition from breaking out cleanly and getting out on transition.
"That's the way we play," noted Pierre-à‰douard Bellemare. "We can't play on our heels. We can't play waiting. That's the best way to lose the game."
Pluses
Another Vegas trademark is, of course, the transition game. The Jon Merrill game-winner is an excellent example, as Erik Haula quickly turned a Brian Dumoulin turnover around:
Jon Merrill scores a BEAUTY of a first goal! pic.twitter.com/dJBTuMw3J1
— Ryan Quigley (@RP_Quigs) December 15, 2017
Small play, but good job by Perron to head off Malkin, stop Malkin from building speed. Malkin has to pass to Cole, which is infinitely preferable for #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/swC3fzKTiT
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 15, 2017
I was also impressed with Nate Schmidt's performance. He led all defenders with a 64.1 Corsi For %, highlighted perhaps by this stop:
Schmidt stops a hard-charging Crosby with some fancy footwork #VegasBorn #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/hYyjaYUZsB
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 15, 2017
And of course, Marc-Andre Fleury was a giant when called upon. He stopped 24 of 25 shots, and perhaps, we haven't seen his best yet.
Fleury, on if he feels up to top speed yet: "Feel better. There's still a few little things.
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 15, 2017
"Reading plays, just being in the right spot, moving around, timing-wise. It's getting better."#VegasBorn
Remarkable hockey here: Crosby, behind net, makes behind the back, between the legs pass to Simon which drew audible gasps from crowd.
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 15, 2017
Simon all alone in front of Fleury, flubs it, but as he's falling, gets it to Dumoulin by himself off to side...but Fleury! pic.twitter.com/vNGbvq0hG6
They are just absolutely a dog and a bone on that puck. They just work so hard, and I think that’s where they kind of caught us by surprise on a couple. Especially on the forecheck, quick turnover, bang-bang to the net.That’s what they are good at. We knew that going into it, but they are definitely a hard-working team and a fast team. Good in transition.
I don’t think they do anything special, but they work extremely hard and I think that’s why they have such success.
Minuses
It's all good in Sin City right now!
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