In this week’s edition of Monday Morning Headlines, we look at Tomas Hertl’s goal scoring success this season, the upcoming four-game Eastern Conference road trip and how former Vegas Golden Knights players are doing around the NHL.
The Golden Knights attempted to mount a multi-goal comeback last night against the Los Angeles Kings but fell short, losing 6-5. The comeback was ignited by Hertl, who recorded a hat trick, bringing his goal total up to 27.
He currently leads the team in goals and is tied for 20th in the NHL. The 31-year-old is on pace to tie his career-high in goals of 35, which he set back in the 2018-19 season with the San Jose Sharks. His 12 power play goals are the most he’s scored in any season of his career, finding a lot of success playing in front of the opponent’s net.
Although the homestand ended with a loss, the positives outweighed the negatives. They won four of five games at home, beating strong teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New Jersey Devils.
Heading out to the East Coast with momentum is vital and they’ll be doing just that. With matchups against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres, and the Detroit Red Wings, the Golden Knights are fortunate to be avoiding some of the top clubs in the Eastern Conference, but playing on the road is never a small feat.
The Golden Knights should soon find out whether William Karlsson will accompany them on the road trip. His return will be a major boost. The team’s defensive play has been inconsistent, allowing five or more goals three times in their last six games.
Former Golden Knights around the NHL:
Ottawa Senators’ Michael Amadio scored a vital goal to tie the game against the New York Rangers on Saturday. The matchup held key playoff implications, and with less than three minutes remaining, Amadio found the loose puck to register his seventh of the season and send the game to overtime. Brady Tkachuk would win the game in overtime and secure two essential points for the Senators.
Edmonton Oilers’ Mattias Janmark has struggled to chip in offensively this season, scoring just two goals in 62 games. He’s been an effective player on the penalty kill and in the bottom six, recording 15 assists but goals have been hard to come by. The Oilers have faced a major backlash for their lack of secondary scoring and Janmark has not helped contribute.
New Jersey Devils’ Cody Glass was moved on deadline day from the Penguins and scored in his first game as a Devil. Glass has yet to produce offensively as he showed during his days in junior hockey, but he’s become an effective bottom-six player, capable of playing a solid defensive game. Without Jack Hughes, the Devils’ path to the Stanley Cup is a steep mountain to climb, but Glass can solidify himself as a future third-line centre if he can continue to show defensive acumen.
Read the full article here