After shocking the hockey world with an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals as an expansion team during their inaugural season (2017-18), the Vegas Golden Knights have picked up right where they left off. Following a 4-1 series victory against Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, and the Chicago Blackhawks during the first round of the 2020 Playoffs, the Golden Knights find themselves in a 1-1 series tie with a young, exuberant, and talented Vancouver Canucks team in Round 2.
It’s become abundantly clear this postseason that the Golden Knights mean business. They’re a team with their sights firmly set on Lord Stanley, and don’t look like they’ll be settling for anything less than a Cup triumph. What makes Vegas such a powerhouse, and why should opposing teams like the Vancouver Canucks (among others) be fearful?
Reason No. 1: The Force of the Fourth Line
When fans of the sport talk about their favorite hockey teams, they seldom begin with the fourth line. That’s unless, of course, that team is the Golden Knights. Unlike so many other National Hockey League teams, Vegas possesses a physical, in-your-face fourth line that can do damage and wreak havoc in so many different ways. The trio of William Carrier, Ryan “Reavo” Reaves, and Chandler Stephenson at center has emerged as a real force this summer. They can skate, wear down the opposition, chirp and trash talk with the best of them, and play a heavy, physically-demanding style that teams (like the Canucks and Blackhawks before them) just hate playing against.
It’s reached a point where so many of the Canucks’ players such as Chris Tanev and Antoine Roussel focus their energy on the fourth line and neglect the big boys on Vegas such as Johnathan Marchessault, Mark Stone, William Karlsson, Alex Tuch, and Shea Theodore. The Vegas fourth line perfectly rounds out a very talented and balanced roster, and they really know how to physically impose their will on any game and against any opponent. Watch out for Stephenson, Carrier, and Reaves as the playoffs continue.
Reason No. 2: Balance, Depth, Skill, Size, and More
Just like the title reads, this Vegas team is jam-packed with balance, depth, skill, size, and much more. Not only do they have the star-power to turn any games on its head, but it also comes at you in waves with four solid forward lines, a formidable defensive core, and two solid goaltenders which we’ll touch on in the next section. Let’s start with their forwards.
The Golden Knights boast a quick, talented, and lethal forward group that knows how to play the body, win battles, and score goals. This unit is led by the likes of Stone, Karlsson, Marchessault, and Max Pacioretty. They have two lines that can score and make plays, and a solid third line who play a heavy, quick style of play consisting of Nick Cousins, Nicolas Roy, and one of the league’s most underrated players in Alex Tuch. Opposing teams’ blue-lines better be at their best when these 12 come over the boards.
As strong as the Knights are upfront, they also boast an impressive top-six on the blue-line. Led by Shea Theodore, who is quickly emerging as one of the best young defensemen in the NHL, the Knights can “lock it down” with the best of them on defense. Brayden McNabb and Nate Schmidt lead the shutdown charge and are complemented by the likes of Alec Martinez, Zach Whitecloud, and the steady presence of Nick Holden. There’s not much to dislike about where this team is headed, how they’re constructed, and how their defensive core plays as a unit.
Reason No. 3: Between the Pipes
When Vegas hit the ice for their inaugural season back in October 2017, Marc-Andre Fleury was a clear-cut fan-favorite as the “original” Golden Knight. With three Stanley Cups under his belt, Fleury has the tools, skillset, and experience which helped propel Vegas to within three wins of a Stanley Cup. Fast-forward 26 months and there’s a new man between the pipes for the Knights. His name? Robin Lehner.
In eight playoff games so far this summer in Edmonton, Lehner has been sensational. His stats speak for themselves, posting six wins and two losses in eight starts to go along with one shutout. In addition, Lehner possesses a 2.34 goals-against-average (GAA) and a .909 save percentage. His play has backstopped a very good Knights team and has given head coach Peter DeBoer, all of his teammates, and the front office ample reason to believe that the ball is firmly in his court in these playoffs. He’s as locked in as they get in the Western Conference which spells bad news for those remaining in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Round 2 and Beyond
Although the Golden Knights dropped Game 2 to Vancouver by a score of 5-2, expect them to rally, bounce back, and eventually prevail in this series. As previously mentioned, the Golden Knights have a deep and talented roster that is the epitome of what it takes to win in today’s ever-changing NHL landscape that should place them in good stead throughout these playoffs. They’re a feared team and rightfully so.
How far can this team go? Only time will tell.
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @ptsportstalk
Follow Dom Lunardo on Twitter @TapetoTape88
Main Image Credit:Embed from Getty Images
