The Vegas Golden Knights find themselves in a familiar yet slightly unsettling position as the NHL pauses for its annual Christmas break. While tied for first place in the Pacific Division with the Anaheim Ducks, a sense of unease lingers around the team, a stark contrast to their dominant regular seasons of the past.
Forwards: A Middle-of-the-Road Performance
The forward group, while not underperforming, hasn't quite reached the heights expected of them. Jack Eichel continues to be a driving force, leading the team with 41 points in 31 games. However, Eichel is currently sidelined with a lower-body injury and illness. Tomáš Hertl has shown flashes of brilliance, but has struggled with injuries and consistency, contributing 27 points in 34 games. Mitch Marner has been a consistent presence with 38 points in 35 games. The Golden Knights recently defeated the San Jose Sharks 7-2, with goals from Brett Howden, Marner (2), Colton Sissons, Tomas Hertl, Mark Stone, and Reilly Smith.
Defense: Injuries Taking a Toll
The defensive corps has been hit hard by the injury bug. Shea Theodore is the latest casualty, placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. He had recorded four goals and 20 points in 31 games. Theodore joins William Karlsson on injured reserve, leaving the Golden Knights thin on the blue line. The team has recalled Dylan Coghlan from the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League.
Goaltending: A Carousel of Netminders
The Golden Knights' crease has been a revolving door due to injuries. Four goalies have seen action thus far: Carter Hart, Adin Hill, Carl Lindbom, and Akira Schmid. Hart, acquired to solidify the position, has a 3-1-2 record with a .903 save percentage and a 2.56 goals-against average. Hill remains on injured reserve since suffering a lower-body injury on October 20th. He is listed as week-to-week. Lindbom has a 1-4-2 record, while Schmid has a 11-3-4 record. Carter Hart recently secured his 100th career win.
Special Teams: A Tale of Two Extremes
The Golden Knights' special teams present a mixed bag. Their power play is ranked among the league's best, operating at a 37.5% efficiency. However, their penalty kill has been abysmal, ranking near the bottom of the league at 66.7%. This disparity highlights a critical area needing improvement in the second half of the season.
Looking Ahead
The Golden Knights enter the Christmas break with a 17-8-10 record, totaling 44 points. While they've dominated the San Jose Sharks, winning their last 10 games, inconsistency and injuries have prevented them from establishing themselves as clear division leaders. Key players like Shea Theodore and Jack Eichel are currently sidelined. Adin Hill is also on injured reserve. To solidify their position and contend for a deep playoff run, the Golden Knights will need to address their penalty kill woes, get healthy, and find more consistent contributions from their forward group.
