Golden Knights Eye Reset Against Kraken as Divisional Stretch Begins
If the Vegas Golden Knights are looking for a turning point, this next stretch is tailor-made for it.
Starting Saturday night, the Golden Knights kick off a crucial four-game run against Pacific Division opponents before the Olympic break. First up: the Seattle Kraken at T-Mobile Arena - a matchup between the NHL's two newest franchises, both trying to find consistency as the season heats up.
Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, NV
Date: Saturday, January 31
Time: 7:00 PM PST
Watch: ESPN+, SCRIPPS
Listen: 1340 AM, 94.7 FM
Vegas is coming off a rollercoaster of a game against the Dallas Stars, one that saw them erase a three-goal deficit only to fall short in the shootout. That loss marked their fifth in the last six games - not exactly the kind of stretch you want heading into a critical divisional slate. But with four straight games against Pacific foes on deck, there’s a golden opportunity here to course-correct before the league hits pause for the Olympics.
Here’s what needs to happen for the Knights to get back on track against Seattle:
Put Together a Full 60
The third period against Dallas was vintage Golden Knights - fast, aggressive, and opportunistic. But the problem is, they’ve been leaning on late-game surges far too often lately. Falling behind early has become a trend, and while comebacks can be thrilling, they’re not a sustainable way to win hockey games.
Reilly Smith, Ivan Barbashev, and Mitch Marner all played key roles in sparking that rally against the Stars, but head coach Bruce Cassidy would much rather see that kind of urgency from puck drop. Expect Vegas to come out with purpose - pressing early, dictating pace, and trying to avoid the all-too-familiar script of chasing the game late.
Solve the Goaltending Puzzle
If there’s one area that’s defined the difference between these two teams of late, it’s goaltending - and not in the way you might expect.
The Kraken, despite some early-season questions in net, have quietly put together one of the league’s top-five team save percentages at .909. Joey Daccord has stepped up in a big way, and Philipp Grubauer has provided stability when healthy.
Meanwhile, Vegas is sitting near the bottom of the league in that same category, ahead of only Ottawa. Adin Hill, in particular, has struggled, posting a .855 save percentage - the lowest among goaltenders with at least five games played.
That puts pressure on the Golden Knights to play a cleaner game in front of their netminder. Turnovers, missed assignments, and poor puck management have been costly. If Vegas is going to find its rhythm again, it starts with tightening up defensively and capitalizing on the chances they do generate.
Leverage the Fortress
Seattle has had a rough time in the desert. Since entering the league in 2021, the Kraken have managed just one win in nine trips to T-Mobile Arena. That’s not just a stat - that’s a psychological edge Vegas can lean into.
The Golden Knights have historically fed off their home crowd, and with the stakes rising, there’s no better time to reestablish that home-ice dominance. If they can jump on Seattle early and get the crowd buzzing, it could go a long way in setting the tone not just for this game, but for the entire divisional stretch ahead.
The Golden Knights have been here before - a team in a bit of a rut, staring down a pivotal stretch. But this group knows how to respond.
With four straight games against division rivals and a chance to reset before the Olympic break, the path is clear. Now it’s about execution.