If Nic Dowd’s choice words towards Logan Cooley at the end of an explosive Game One were any indication, this is going to be an intense series.
On Tuesday, the Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Mammoth collide as the home team looks to take a 2-0 series lead before the trip to Salt Lake City.
Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, NV
Date: Tuesday, April 21
Time: 6:30 pm PST
How To Watch: ESPN+, SCRIPPS, ESPN2
Radio: 1340 AM, 94.7 FM
The Golden Knights got the start to the Stanley Cup Playoffs they were looking for, defeating the Mammoth 4-2 in Game One. Despite the opposition’s strong effort, Vegas was finally able to wear them down enough to take the victory on the strength of three goals in the third period. It has been a formula the Golden Knights have used often during the season and, while it does carry some risk as the postseason rolls on, it appears to still be in working order.
With a couple days to make adjustments, here is what the Golden Knights can do to take a stranglehold on the series.
Brains over brawn
The Golden Knights were clearly the more physical team in Game One, nearly doubling the Mammoth in hits 51-30.
While the willingness to wear down the Mammoth is appreciated, the Golden Knights will still have to play smart. Cooley and Sean Durzi are already proving to be pains in the series, but Vegas cannot lose focus and turn this into an all-out brawl where special teams become the difference maker. So long as the Golden Knights can keep their eyes on the prize, they can maintain control of the game while also punishing the Mammoth.
Depth charges set
The heroes of Game One were not necessarily who the Golden Knights expected.
The fourth line put on a performance reminiscent of 2018, when the likes of William Carrier, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Ryan Reaves were delivering crushing hits and scoring momentum-swinging goals. This time, it was Colton Sissons and Dowd getting the puck in the Utah net, with the latter ultimately serving as the game-winner. If the fourth line can continue to be a positive while the stars get their games going, the Golden Knights are going to be a tough out for any team, let alone the Mammoth.
Pile on the pressure
This is where the extensive playoff experience gap between the Golden Knights and Mammoth could come into play.
The Mammoth will be pushing heavily to tie the series and maximize their home ice advantage when the action heads east to Utah on Friday, so they are going to want to push the pace early. While the Golden Knights have been content on allowing chances in order to stay aggressive in their own right, any desperation from the Mammoth could lead to chances heading their way. On top of remaining physical, expect a heady defensive effort as Vegas sees if they can spring a sudden advantage and force more mistakes from the opposition.