The Vegas Stretch
It has been one heck of a season so far for the Vegas Golden Knights, with a mix of highs and lows. At times, they’ve had back-to-back contrasting performances, but Vegas continues to find ways to stay atop their division. Currently, they hold a 15-7-3 record, sitting just one win ahead of the 14-8-3 L.A. Kings in the Pacific Division. NHL divisional and conference rivalries can be unpredictable, especially as the season nears its midpoint. Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, we saw a perfect example of the Golden Knights’ rollercoaster performances, as they experienced both dominant victories and tough defeats within a span of 48 hours.
On Friday night, Vegas secured a gritty 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets, a team that has established itself as an NHL juggernaut this season. This was a significant victory, as it marked only the second time this season that the Jets have lost back-to-back games.
Jack Eichel has played a pivotal role in keeping Vegas competitive, serving as the frontman and leading the charge. With his MVP-caliber play, he’s on pace for 118 points, far surpassing his career-high 82 points from the 2018-19 season. However, Eichel and the Knights will be looking to rebound after suffering a brutal 0-6 loss to the 10-10-4 Utah Hockey Club on Saturday night. The game unraveled quickly, with Vegas conceding four goals in the first period—three of which resulted from costly turnovers in the neutral zone. The defeat marked the worst home loss in franchise history, as they allowed six goals on 28 shots, the most they’ve given up since their 2018 game against the New Jersey Devils. Adding to the sting, they were shut out by an undrafted AHL goalie, Jaxson Stauber, who was making his first NHL start since February 2023 and had just five career starts under his belt.
Still, it’s hard to fault the Golden Knights for having a complete “meltdown game” after enduring a grueling schedule—seven games in ten days. The league’s top teams often face the toughest schedules, but playing five road games in a short span and returning home for back-to-back contests is a brutal stretch. That’s a lot of hockey in very little time. Now, Vegas looks to bounce back and regain momentum as they prepare for an exciting, fast-paced showdown against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.
- – Dante Robinson | Senior NHL Analyst for The National Sports Report