The Vegas Golden Knights head into Tuesday’s matinee with a familiar edge, even if last season’s results against the Seattle Kraken told a different story. Seattle took the season series 3-1-0 a year ago, a sharp turn from the bigger picture: Vegas still owns a 13-3-3 all-time record against the Kraken entering this one.
That history matters, but so does what’s happening right now. The Golden Knights have only played three games, yet Victor Olofsson is already leading the club in goals with two, and both of those have come on the power play. Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner are expected to drive the offense again, and both were central in Vegas’ 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks, when Eichel picked up a power play assist and the other superstar scored as the Knights erased a 1-0 first-period deficit.
Seattle, though, is not walking in as a soft landing spot. The Kraken pushed the Edmonton Oilers over the weekend and have shown enough offense early this season to make Vegas work for everything. If the Golden Knights get dragged into Seattle’s style, they could be staring at a much tougher afternoon than the matchup on paper suggests.
So the path is pretty clear for Vegas.
First, the stars have to set the tone right away. Eichel and Marner are the engine here, and the Knights need them attacking early, spending time in the offensive zone, and forcing Seattle to defend the high-danger areas.
Second, Vegas has to keep the game moving. The Kraken are at their best when they slow things down, dump and chase, and turn the game into a mistake-fest.
The Knights need the opposite: speed, pressure, and a fast pace that lets them strike on the rush. That’s where players like Braeden Bowman and Trevor Connelly could matter, with both bringing plenty of speed.
Third, the puck security has to be clean. Turnovers in the neutral and defensive zones are exactly the kind of self-inflicted damage Vegas can’t afford, especially against a team that can cash in on mistakes. The Knights have already seen how costly that can be, and they also left gaps open and didn’t support Carter Hart on the back end on Friday.
If Vegas handles the puck, keeps the tempo up, and gets its top end involved early, it has the pieces to take control and leave Climate Pledge Arena with the result it wants.
In Other News...
Golden Knights Suddenly Have A Problem They Cant Keep Chasing
The Golden Knights latest setback looked familiar in the worst way, with a slow start leaving them chasing the game again before they ever had a chance to settle in. Vegas did manage to erase the early deficit in the first period, and Tom Hertl supplied the lone goal, but the response only got them so far in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Carter Hart did his part to keep the game within reach, stopping 18 shots, but the bigger concern is the stretch itself. Three straight losses can be shrugged off once in a while, yet the Golden Knights are starting to look like a team that is spending too much time recovering from its own mistakes instead of controlling games from the opening faceoff. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Face Early Road Trip Questions After Lopsided Loss
The Golden Knights first stop on this road trip brought an immediate reality check, as St. Louis controlled the night from the opening goal and rolled to a 6-2 win at Enterprise Center. Vegas had moments, including goals from Brett Howden and Jack Eichel, but the Blues kept answering, with Pavel Buchnevich, Justin Barron, Mason McTavish, Jimmy Snuggerud and Dylan Holloway all finding the net in a game the visitors never managed to pull back into reach.
For a team that expected to use this trip to settle in, the bigger question now is how quickly the Knights can reset before Saturdays matchup with the Blue Jackets. One lopsided loss does not define a road swing, but it does put a little extra attention on how Vegas responds after giving up the lead early and spending the rest of the night chasing. [Read more 🡒]
Jack Eichel Is Playing Like A Different Star For Vegas
Jack Eichels season has looked different in all the ways that matter most to the Golden Knights. He is on pace for a career-high 41 goals and could become the first Vegas player to hit 100 points in a single season, a marker that would put his offensive run in a class all its own for the franchise. What stands out is not just the volume, but the efficiency, with his shooting percentage climbing to 18.8 percent, the best of his career.
The bigger shift has been how he is getting there. Eichel has played with more aggression and sharper shot selection, and the fit around him has helped, with Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev giving Vegas a more dangerous look whenever the top line is rolling. Even without a power-play goal this season, Eichels production has taken on the shape of a true No. 1 star, and the Knights are benefiting from the version of him that attacks more often and finishes cleaner than before. [Read more 🡒]