The Vegas Golden Knights flamed out in the first round of the playoffs last year to the Dallas Stars in large part due to HC Bruce Cassidy’s inability to find the best lines. The blame can’t all be put on him as the Golden Knights were ravaged with injuries and did not have enough time to build chemistry among linemates.
This season, however, is different. No long-term major injuries have leaked into the playoffs, and Cassidy feels comfortable with what he’s seen from his players.
Heading into a series against a Minnesota Wild team that ranks 15th in goals allowed per game despite an abundance of injuries, Cassidy will go with what’s brought them success throughout the 2024-25 regular season.
“Karlsson, Olofsson and Smith have been very good since Karly’s comeback, and we got Smitty through trade, so we don’t have to mess around,” said Cassidy. “We’ve got Hertl, Dorofeyev and Saad; they’ve been very good together. Hertl missed a few weeks, but in general, they’ve been healthy. So it’s just Jack and Stoney, and then is it Barbie or Howden.”
“Then we got Roy, Kolesar and Pearson, and we have to decide that, but in general, we’re going to revert back to those lines we had earlier because guys have moved around. I think the positive side to losing guys to injury is that you get to look at guys in a more advanced role, so that can come in handy down the road. That’s how we’re going to approach it to start and see how it turns out.”
Jack Eichel, Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev have been a mainstay on the top line, recording 462:00 of ice time together.
Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev lead the team in goals and have been complemented nicely by Brandon Saad, who they signed as a free agent after he was cut by the St. Louis Blues.
Victor Olofsson, who was not known for his defensive game with the Buffalo Sabres, has blossomed this season on that side of the puck and has become the perfect final piece to the formidable duo of William Karlsson and Reilly Smith.
Smith And Karlsson’s Penalty Killing Pose Additional Offensive Threats For Golden KnightsWilliam Karlsson and Reilly Smith are the Vegas Golden Knights franchise leaders in shorthanded goals and points, and after being reunited at the deadline, they are showing just how dangerous and effective they can be on the penalty kill.
At the moment, Cassidy is unsure about who will be playing on the fourth line. One player out of Nicolas Roy, Brett Howden, Keegan Kolsear and Tanner Pearson will be held out of the Game 1 lineup despite being more than deserving of playing.
The phrase “it’s a good problem to have” gets thrown around a lot in hockey, mostly when referring to having a plethora of depth options, and no team embodies it more than the Golden Knights.
With several lineup options to choose from, Cassidy can benefit from being able to switch things quickly when it’s not going the Golden Knights’ way and have the trust in his players that they can rely on the chemistry they’ve previously shown.
The Golden Knights may be the odds-on favourite, but a team rostering Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, Joel Erickson-Ek, Mats Zuccarello and Brock Faber will not roll over and let the Golden Knights breeze by.
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Storylines Abound When In Opening Round Series Between Golden Knights And Wild, Including Several Head-To-Head MatchupsLAS VEGAS — There are storylines aplenty across every NHL Playoff series, and will be as we get closer to the Stanley Cup Final.
Which Golden Knights Players Have Contract Implications Heading Into The PlayoffsThe Vegas Golden Knights are heading into the playoffs with an abundance of confidence, winning the Pacific Division and ranking second in the Western Conference. Although most of the team is under contract beyond this season, some are not, and that could bode well for the Golden Knights.
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