The Vegas Golden Knights began the season with a seven-game winning streak, the longest such streak to open a campaign by any reigning Stanley Cup champion in NHL history, and head into Thursday’s game in Las Vegas against the Winnipeg Jets still without a regulation loss.
With its 9-0-1 start to the season, Vegas became the 20th team in league history with a season-opening point streak of at least 10 games. Seven of the other teams to accomplish the feat went on to win the Stanley Cup.
But despite facing a difficult three-games-in-four-days stretch that includes a Saturday night showdown with Central Division-leading Colorado followed by a Sunday game at surprising Anaheim, the Golden Knights decided not to take a day off after their 3-2 shootout victory over Montreal on Monday night.
Instead, Vegas practiced both Tuesday and Wednesday. The Golden Knights are frustrated with their execution and think they can play even better.
“We’re just a little off, right?” Vegas captain Mark Stone said. “We’re not breaking out as clean as we normally do. We’re not making the plays in the (offensive) zone we normally do. We’re not getting through the neutral zone. It’s just a little off, right? But it’s a little off. That’s why we’re still winning games.”
The Golden Knights have gone into overtime in their last three games, losing at home to Chicago, 4-3, last Friday night. They followed that up with a 4-3 shootout win on Saturday at Los Angeles before edging the Canadiens.
Vegas was outshot 27-7 over the final two periods against Montreal and had just two shots on goal in the second period. Shea Theodore won it with a goal in the fourth round of the shootout, while Adin Hill finished with 37 saves.
“We’ve had some good spurts of hockey but also some maybe not our best,” Stone said. “You never want to give up 40 shots to a team (Montreal) that traveled yesterday, a three-time-zone change. You want to jump on these teams and kind of impose your will. We’ll regroup and touch up a few things.
“We’re 9-0-1. I like where we’re at. I’m not sitting here complaining what our record is. We just want to continue to get better.”
Next up is a Winnipeg team that Vegas defeated in five games in the first round of the playoffs last season. The Golden Knights also defeated the Jets 5-3 on Oct. 19 in Winnipeg.
Winnipeg is on a five-game point streak (3-0-2) and comes in off a 3-2 overtime loss to the red-hot New York Rangers on Monday. Mika Zibanejad scored the game-winner with just 26 seconds left in the extra frame.
The Jets put together their streak despite going 1-for-18 on the power play and are just 4-for-34 with the extra man this season.
“Our team game has been good,” Winnipeg interim coach Scott Arniel said. “Our specialty teams have to get better.”
Arniel is handling head-coaching duties after Rick Bowness took a leave of absence after his wife Judy suffered a seizure Oct. 22.
The Jets are beginning a three-game road trip that also includes stops at Arizona (Saturday afternoon) and St. Louis (Tuesday).
Although Stone and the Golden Knights have been frustrated with their recent play, you’d have a hard time convincing Arniel anything is wrong in Sin City.
“They’re Stanley Cup champs and they’re not missing a beat,” Arniel said. “What are they, 9-0-1? They’re playing hard and they’re playing like the experienced team that they are.”
–Field Level Media
