Six games into the season and the Vegas Golden Knights find themselves in third place in the Pacific Division. With their only two losses sandwiched between four blowout wins, there are many reasons to be excited about the Golden Knights this season. If this past weekend was any indication, the NHL’s newest team is a tough out on a nightly basis.
Vegas was able to extinguish the Flames (USA Today Sports)
Saturday night’s home win against the Calgary Flames was a big win. Coming off two losses, the Golden Knights needed to rebound and stop the bleeding. The team responded admirably with a 6-2 demolishing of the Flames, scoring the last five goals of the night. While the Flames were able to put a handful of big moments together, Marc-Andre Fleury consistently thwarted their attempts. The game showed just how evenly matched the two clubs are, ending with the teams tied in Fenwick, High Danger Chances, and a separated by differential of three in scoring chances at 5-on-5 play. David Rittich, the Flames’ goaltender of the night, surely would like a few of those goals back.
Without Malcolm Subban (lower-body injury), Fleury was tasked with starting on back-to-back nights. He has done well in those situations in the past, but that very situation is something the Golden Knights should avoid as much as possible. Fleury isn’t getting any younger, but a lack of faith in Oscar Dansk (AHL) seemingly thrusted Fleury into action. Once healthy, Subban should see more playing time than in past seasons.
Despite his best effort, Quick took the loss (USA Today Sports)
Similarly, to the home game against the Flames the night prior, Fleury made numerous desperation saves, keeping the Golden Knights in the game. His calming presence and incredible play kept the Kings at bay. Combine his play with the Golden Knights’ surprising 3-for-3 night on the man-advantage and you’re left with a 5-2 road win against another division rival. Coming into the game, the Golden Knights’ power play was operating at just 17.65%. Following the explosion on Sunday night, the team sits at a 30% efficiency.
Many players had a hand in the two-game win streak over the weekend, but the following players were the biggest Weekend Warriors for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Mark Stone:
Mark Stone can do it all (USA Today Sports)
On Saturday at home, Stone recorded his fourth multi-point game in five contests. Just 3:24 into the game, he assisted on Tomas Nosek’s third goal of the season. He stayed hot and scored the second goal of the game for the Golden Knights, following two straight goals for the Flames. His goal served as a momentum shift for the team, as they would go on to score four more unanswered before the end of the final horn. He followed it up on Sunday with another goal in LA, when a rolling puck found its way to his stick. He smoothly lifted a backhand up and over Jonathan Quick, erasing a Kings goal scored 17 seconds prior, the final goal of the evening.
Not only is he leading the team in points (4 goals - 5 assists - 9 points), Stone is leaps and bounds the best two-way forward on the team and has been a great add by former General Manager George McPhee. A Selke-winning season could be in his future as well as MVP consideration.
The Fourth Line:
Ryan Reaves got his first of the season (USA Today Sports)
William Carrier and Ryan Reaves flank Nosek this season, serving as the Golden Knights’ “checking line”. Just six games into the season, all three forwards have scored goals. Nosek scored the first goal of the Flames game and serves as one of the primary penalty killers on the team. Together with Paul Stastny, Nosek makes up a formidable PK unit, in relief of Cody Eakin and Stone. The Golden Knights successfully killed seven penalties this weekend and Nosek was a big part of it.
Carrier has shown an intriguing level of talent when he takes an interest in playing the puck. Typically, Carrier is all about the physical game, but this season he has shown more facets of his game. His forechecking remains his strongest asset to the team, but now he is winning puck battles and creating offense out of these battles. The fourth line as a unit has done a great job of generating sustained offensive zone time and pressuring the opposing defenses. Reaves and Carrier were rewarded with goals in the Calgary game, with Carrier also assisting on the Nosek goal, to open that game.
Paul Stastny
Paul Stastny had five points in two days (USA Today Sports)
Paul Stastny has five points on the season (3 goals – 2 assists) and each of them came over the weekend. On Saturday, Stastny scored the fourth of six Golden Knights goals against the Flames, for his first goal AND point of the season. After starting the season on the third line, to add defensive responsibility in Eakin’s absence, Stastny was reunited with Max Pacioretty and Stone on line two. The change immediately paid off, as he had his two best games of the season.
In Los Angeles, he had a four-point performance, scoring two power play goals in the second period. His goals were scored within 2:09 of one another and put the Kings in a 4-1 hole. As a result of Pacioretty’s power play goal in the first period, the Kings were giving Stastny too much room in the slot and he made them pay. His first goal was a nice tip in on a pass from Patches and the second came on a short-side one-timer from Jonathan Marchessault. Stastny came out in a big way this weekend, a much-needed performance for the 33-year-old center.
Stastny's biggest contributions are in his two-way game and when he is scoring goals, the team will win their fair share of games. The two-way center is the best faceoff guy on the team and plays a big role on the PK. Having players like Stastny brings teams championships. His signing prior to the 2018-19 season was a very smart move for the Golden Knights. He clearly has gas left in the tank.
Marc-Andre Fleury:
Marc-Andre Fleury is still a top-ten goaltender (USA Today Sports)
With Subban unavailable, Fleury started both games of the back-to-back set. Neither game lacked activity for the Golden Knights’ netminder. In his first game, Fleury turned away 33 of 35 shots, with a little help from Brayden McNabb. Every few games, McNabb seems to be auditioning for a goalie spot on the team. He never shies away from getting in the open net, covering for Flower. At one point, McNabb was fully down in a butterfly, covering for Fleury. Despite the instance where additional support was needed, the actual goaltender played a great game. He made big save after big save, keeping the Golden Knights in control. He also got a little help from the crossbar on a Matthew Tkachuk power play drive.
Against the Kings, Fleury was a bit more active, facing 38 shots, allowing two goals. The Kings had multiple two-on-one chances foiled by Fleury’s quick instincts, including one save on Jeff Carter that he had no right making. This game was arguably his best of the young season and he had the Kings visibly frustrated. Even if they’re afraid to start Dansk, Fleury will keep the team in most games, until the return of Subban. A Thursday matchup with the Ottawa Senators might be a good spot to rest Fleury and give Dansk some action.
There is no time for the Golden Knights to rest and enjoy their wins. A Tuesday meeting with the Nashville Predators is on the horizon and that game could be particularly tough. The Predators boast a solid defense corps and a great goaltender tandem. Thursday’s game against the Senators is their last at home, before a three-game road trip against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Chicago Blackhawks. The team’s next home game will be on October 25, against the undefeated Colorado Avalanche.
Following every Golden Knights game, I will be holding a Post-Game discussion on Facebook Live! Come share your thoughts and opinions on the game. The Facebook link is included below for quick reference! If you can’t make the Facebook Live, be sure to check the audio podcast, available on all of your favorite Podcast Apps!
If you're into predictions, make sure you check out #VGKPredictions on Twitter, as I have been making a prediction before every game.
Current Record: 4-2
We Have Links!
Vegas Golden Knights Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»