Braeden Bowman gave the Golden Knights another reason to trust him in the shootout Thursday night, and this time the case was impossible to miss.
In Vegas’ 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, Bowman was one of the two Golden Knights who scored in the shootout, joining Trevor Connelly. The finish against Sergei Bobrovsky stood out immediately: Bowman worked his way toward the slot, made the goalie think one way, then slipped the puck past him for the 1-0 edge. It was the kind of move that makes a young player look a lot bigger than his resume.
That was hardly a one-off. Bowman pulled off a similar move in the preseason against the San Jose Sharks, again showing the same ability to manipulate the goaltender before finishing the play. Against Yaroslav Askarov, he drew the goalie out, then went five-hole to help deliver a Golden Knights preseason win.
Bowman’s shootout value is becoming harder to ignore because the ingredients are all there. He finished last season with eight goals and 18 assists, a strong run for an undrafted rookie that earned him a contract extension with Vegas. Now he’s turning that momentum into a very specific kind of edge: the ability to stay in control while the goalie is the one forced to react.
There’s also a built-in comfort level here with head coach Ryan Craig. Bowman and Craig already know each other from their time with the Henderson Silver Knights, and that familiarity shows up in the trust Craig appears to have in him in these situations.
The Golden Knights have options, but not every option has delivered the same payoff. Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner haven’t had much luck in the shootout compared with Shea Theodore, and Pavel Dorofeyev is gone. That opens the door wider for Bowman, especially after what he’s shown in two different settings.
The bigger picture is simple: when Bowman moves second, he gets the goaltender to commit first. That gives him the upper hand, and he’s using it well.
With Connelly also proving useful, Vegas may have stumbled onto a pair of young players who can tilt shootouts their way. Bowman, in particular, looks ready to keep getting those chances.
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Golden Knights Have A Big Opportunity Against A Reeling Kings Team
The Golden Knights head into Saturday with a chance to keep building early momentum against a Kings team that has looked out of sync to open the season. Los Angeles is still searching for its first win, while Vegas has had recent success in the matchup and comes in with Jack Eichel driving much of the offense. Eichel has been a big part of the Knights early push, and his start has only reinforced how dangerous this lineup can be when its top end is rolling.
Vegas will also be looking for the kind of energy its fourth line can provide in a game like this, where depth often ends up mattering just as much as the marquee names. Against a Kings group trying to steady itself, the Golden Knights have an opportunity to press the pace, lean on their depth, and make the most of a favorable spot in the schedule. [Read more 🡒]