The band is back together again for the Vegas Golden Knights.
On Friday, the Golden Knights get one step closer to icing their full lineup when they take on the Washington Capitals for the first time this season.
Venue: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Date: Friday, February 27
Time: 4:00pm PST
How To Watch: SCRIPPS, ESPN+
Radio: 1340 AM, 94.7 FM
Despite being without most of their Olympians, the Golden Knights gutted out an impressive victory over the Los Angeles Kings last time out. Fortunately, the team will not have to endure that again, as several heavy hitters are expected to draw back into the lineup. The Capitals are also expected to have Canadian Olympian Tom Wilson back for the first time since the Olympic break, so both teams are headed into this game getting closer to 100 percent.
Here is how the Golden Knights can be the team to take advantage of their situation.
Load of confidence
The victory against the Kings on Wednesday is the type of performance that drives momentum for a while.
Needing significant contributions from depth players, the Golden Knights got goals from five different skaters in the win. Pavel Dorofeyev continued to ride an impressive offensive season by breaking the franchise record of 15 power play goals, while Brayden McNabb, Colton Sissons and Brandon Saad combined for two goals and five points in their collective return to the lineup. With the depth hitting the ground running, it is interesting to see if the team will fire on all cylinders with their top stars back.
Keep building
While the Golden Knights have made a bad habit of getting streaky over the past couple of months, they are currently on the right side of the equation.
The win over the Kings pushes the Golden Knights to three straight wins, which is vital if they hope to get some separation in the Pacific Division standings. They now hope to carry that momentum against an equally hot Capitals team, who are winners of five of their last six. A road victory here will make for another positive impact, which should carry the Golden Knights through at least the remainder of this current five-game trip.
Outside the obvious
Wilson and Alex Ovechkin are no longer the only viable threats that the Golden Knights will have to contend with in the nation’s capital.
Defenseman Jakob Chychrun looks the part of a dark horse for the Norris Trophy, posting 21 goals and 47 points so far this season. Aliaksei Protas is also leading the next generation of Capitals so far with 20 goals. While the Golden Knights will have to be mindful of the ‘Ovi Office,’ they cannot allow themselves to get tunnel vision and leave the other weapons unaccounted for.