The night’s headline act lands in Boston, where the Vegas Golden Knights face the Bruins at 7 p.m. ET in a matchup that brings together the defending Western Conference champions and the current Atlantic Division leaders.
For Jack Eichel, it’s a return to familiar ground. The Golden Knights center grew up in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and played at Boston University, so this trip carries a homecoming feel. Noah Hanifin has a similar storyline, only from the blue line: the Vegas defenseman is a Boston native and Boston College graduate, and this will be his first game in Boston since joining the Golden Knights.
Both players have plenty of history against the Bruins. Eichel has posted nine goals and 15 assists in 22 career games against Boston, splitting those appearances between Buffalo and Vegas. Hanifin has five goals and 12 assists in 22 games versus the Bruins, with those matchups coming during his time with Carolina, Calgary and Vegas.
Boston’s calling card has been stingy defense. The Bruins are allowing 2.40 goals per game, the fourth-lowest mark in the NHL, with Jeremy Swayman playing a major role in that success.
Swayman also has a connection to the Vegas duo, having been an Olympic teammate of both Eichel and Hanifin. And when Boston gets to three goals or more, the results have been perfect: the Bruins are 9-0-0 this season in those games.
There are three more games on Monday’s slate, starting with Detroit at Florida at 7 p.m. ET.
The Panthers are 8-4-2 and riding a three-game winning streak, though they have gone 0-2-0 against Atlantic Division opponents. Florida’s power play is clicking at 24.2%, good for ninth in the league.
For Detroit, Alex DeBrincat leads the way with 15 points in 14 games, and the Red Wings are 3-1-0 when they take fewer penalty minutes than their opponent.
At 8 p.m. ET, Colorado visits Chicago in the first of four meetings between the teams this season.
Their next matchup is Feb. 28.
The Avalanche’s offense is being driven by Nathan MacKinnon, who has 24 points in 14 games, along with Martin Necas at 18 points in 14 games and Artturi Lehkonen at 17 in 14. Chicago’s top point producers are Connor Bedard, with nine points in eight games, and Patrick Kane, who also has nine points, though in 14 games.
The late game sends Calgary to San Jose at 9 p.m. ET. The Flames arrive with the NHL’s second-ranked power play at 33.3%, while the Sharks are led offensively by Macklin Celebrini with 16 points in 13 games and Will Smith with 10 in 15.
In Other News...
Eichels Quiet Stretch Is Becoming A Real Golden Knights Concern
Jack Eichels recent scoring lull has started to stand out at the wrong time for the Golden Knights. He managed only one goal last week, and while his season-long production still points to elite numbers, the broader picture is harder to ignore for a team that leans on him to drive play and finish chances. With Vegas already dealing with some offensive inconsistency, Eichels quiet stretch has become part of the conversation around a group that has not looked as sharp in the attacking zone as it usually does.
There are reasons to wonder whether the grind of international play has left him a step off, especially with a demanding road trip looming. The Golden Knights also need more from the rest of their top end, including Mark Stone and Mitch Marner, if they want to keep the pressure off Eichel and avoid asking him to carry too much of the load. The next few games should say plenty about whether this is just a temporary dip or something more concerning for Vegas. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Just Helped Create A Devils Lineup Concern
New Jerseys strong start has been one of the early stories of the season, with the Devils opening 9-5-0 in October and then winning five of their last six. The momentum has only been helped by the arrival of goaltender Hellebuyck, who has opened his Devils tenure undefeated in two starts and already drawn praise from former goalie Martin Brodeur.
But the trip through Vegas added a fresh concern to a lineup that had been rolling. Anthony Mantha left the game early after an undisclosed injury, and coach Sheldon Keefe said the club would get a full evaluation once it got back to New Jersey. For a team trying to keep its footing in the standings, the timing of that update matters just as much as the result in the win-loss column. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Give Young Blue-Line Prospect A Fresh NHL Look
The Golden Knights made another tweak to their blue line, recalling defenseman Viliam Kmec from the Henderson Silver Knights and sending Ville Heinola back to the AHL in the corresponding move. For Vegas, it is another look at a young defenseman who has drawn attention for his development in both professional and junior hockey, and another sign the club is still sorting out its depth on the back end.
Kmec, 22, gets a fresh NHL opportunity as the Golden Knights continue to manage their defensive mix around a player who has already spent time between the two levels this season. Heinolas reassignment opens a roster spot and keeps the door open for more movement if Vegas wants to keep evaluating options, but for now the focus shifts to what Kmec can do with his latest chance. [Read more 🡒]