The Golden Knights left the first weekend of their 10th NHL season with three of a possible four points, and the 3-2 win in Vancouver gave the opening stretch a little extra lift. Early October is still a small sample, but it also gives head coach Ryan Craig a chance to settle the group into a rhythm and start sorting out which combinations can carry over from camp into real games.
The biggest eyes, as expected, are on the top six and the growing connection between Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel. Marner picked up his first goal of the season Sunday against the Canucks, finishing a slick seam pass from Eichel in transition.
The talent is obvious. The timing is still coming together.
Five-on-five possession numbers suggest the two are still learning each other’s tendencies, with Eichel favoring a direct downhill attack and Marner better at slowing things down in the offensive zone to open up space. When that pairing syncs up, it can tilt a shift fast, and that chemistry will be a major tactical focus this week.
Further down the lineup, William Karlsson’s new two-year extension gives Vegas some needed stability through the middle. Centering the third line, Karlsson’s dependable two-way game gives Craig options, especially with Tomas Hertl available for tougher, matchup-heavy offensive assignments.
The blue line also comes with a few updates. Raphael Lavoie is day-to-day with an undisclosed minor upper-body issue, after skating lightly over the weekend, and he could be back as soon as Tuesday in Seattle.
Lukas Cormier and Kai Uchacz are still on the non-roster injured list with minor camp ailments, though both are nearing full clearance. In the early going, Jeremy Lauzon and Rasmus Andersson have taken on key defensive-zone starts, and Andersson’s ability to settle puck movement under pressure has helped steady the second pairings.
This week’s schedule should give Vegas a good read on where it stands. Tuesday brings a trip to Seattle, where the Knights will have to deal with an aggressive, high-forechecking style that’s built to force mistakes high in the defensive zone.
That means clean first passes from Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin will matter right away. Thursday shifts back home for Toronto, a high-powered offense that should test Vegas in a different way.
Adin Hill is expected to start, and managing rebounds will be a big part of keeping the Maple Leafs from cashing in on second chances. The week wraps Saturday against Los Angeles, a familiar Pacific Division grind where net-front battles and special teams often decide the night.
Golden Knights schedule, Oct. 5-11, 2026:
Tuesday, Oct. 6 - Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena, 6:40 PM PT
Thursday, Oct. 8 - Toronto Maple Leafs at T-Mobile Arena, 7:00 PM PT
Saturday, Oct. 10 - Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena, 7:00 PM PT
In Other News...
Victor Olofsson Gives Golden Knights Fans A New Reason To Worry
Victor Olofsson keeps showing why the Golden Knights brought him back, and why his start has already become one of the more intriguing early developments around the team. In Thursdays 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken, he scored twice and now leads Vegas in goals through four games, a sharp opening for a player trying to settle back into a familiar setting after last seasons stops in Colorado and Calgary.
For a team that has leaned on depth and balance in the past, Olofssons quick finish has at least hinted at another layer to the offense. His early production has also revived the bigger conversation around whether this is a short burst or the beginning of a much more meaningful role, which is exactly the kind of question that can linger when a scorer gets hot this fast. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Big Win Came With A New Injury Concern
The Golden Knights left Seattle with another convincing road win, rolling past the Kraken 6-2 at Climate Pledge Arena and staying unbeaten in regulation at the building. Mark Stone helped power the night with the NHLs first Gordie Howe Hat Trick of the 2026-27 season, piling up two goals, an assist and a fight in a game that had plenty of edge for Vegas.
The mood shifted late when Kraken forward Ben Meyers boarded Victor Olofsson, leaving the Golden Knights with a fresh injury concern to monitor after an otherwise strong showing. Meyers was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct, and while Vegas kept control on the scoreboard, the bigger question coming out of the trip now centers on Olofssons status. [Read more 🡒]
Kraken Suddenly Face A Blue Line Concern After Physical Loss
Ryan Lindgrens night ended early after a hit from behind forced the Seattle defenseman out with an upper-body injury, adding another layer of concern to a Kraken group already trying to absorb the physical toll of a hard game. The sequence also left Vegas with its own injury issue, as forward Victor Olofsson was hurt after being boarded by a Seattle player, turning a chippy matchup into one with potential ripple effects for both clubs.
For a Golden Knights team that knows how quickly a lineup can be tested over the course of a road swing, the aftermath matters almost as much as the result. Seattle now has to sort through a blue line situation that was already under pressure, while the broader injury picture across the teams involved could shape how both sides approach their next games. [Read more 🡒]