(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
In a sport where the victor usually only needs to score three goals, it’s not terribly surprising that the team who scores first tends to win the game more often than those who concede. But, for the Golden Knights, it appears scoring first goes much further than simply putting them one step closer to three.
The first goal is a difference-maker for our group. Early in the season, we were getting it all the time, then we went through a stretch where we weren’t and we were playing from behind and that’s tough for our group because we aren’t scoring easily. -Pete DeBoer
During the five-game win streak, the Golden Knights have scored the first goal in all but one of the contests. In fact, not only have they gotten the first goal, but they’ve even scored the second in four of the five games as well.
What has happened for the Golden Knights when they get the lead is that they seem to settle into the game and play the style that makes them most dangerous. That style includes mucking up the neutral zone, taking safe possession-seeding exits out of the defensive zone when under pressure, and making good decisions with the puck to limit transition chances going the other way.
This season when scoring first, Vegas has posted a record of 29-10-2. When they don’t, the record dips to 10-18-2. It’s even more important on the road where the Golden Knights are 15-5-0 when netting the first goal compared to 4-10-1 when they allow it.
The team that has scored first has won 13 of the Golden Knights’ last 15 games with the two outliers both resulting in Vegas wins.
It’s the second goal that has been even more telling though. In each of the last eight games, the team to score first has also scored second. When Vegas gets the first goal, they tend to play a much safer style that makes life difficult on their opponent. Then, when mistakes are made, the Golden Knights are excellent at capitalizing.
On the flip side, if the Golden Knights concede first, their own transition chances dry up which often leads to the issue that has plagued this team for years, ineffectiveness with extended offensive zone time.
Down the stretch, the Golden Knights are going to need to win a majority of the games left on the schedule. The number of times they score first will likely have a huge impact on whether or not it happens.
Mike StG
Good piece Ken. Numbers say it all. I do think that as things progress and the team gets healthy up front (tho that might be next season) their in-zone play will continue to improve. Mostly due to Eichel, who gives them controlled zone entries and is difficult to separate from the puck. His vision and passing will help them with sustained o-zone time and scoring opportunities.
Pistol Pete
Mike StG agree on Eichel. What do you think of the future of Pacioretty going forward? I think it’s limited meaning off season they have to add a big winger piece on the Eichel line. Stone may be in trouble too. I see the future C’s as Eichel, Stephenson, Roy and Howden. Yes Karlsson and his $5.9m is gone. Not sure how realistic that is. Even though his offensive production has steadily waned he is a good two way player and a piece of Marchy who remains a top scorer.
Pistol Pete
Eichel can also be a tremendously elite 5 on 5 goal scorer with his stick handling ability/skill and shot. We have not quite seen that yet due to rust and then the injured hand. It’s coming.
THE hockey GOD
VGK creep within two points of LAKs if they win their next game against VAN, and after that LAK play OILERS ! Things are HEATING up in the PAC DIV !
Tim
Let us make the last spot and play the Avalanche and I’ll be a happy camper. To beat there pompous asses in the first round would be poetic justice.
THE hockey GOD
SinBin.vegas
@SinBinVegas
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20h
Russian news outlet MatchTV confirms Ivan Morozov plans on coming to North America for next season.
Morozov’s KHL contract ends on April 30th.
Morozov is the 3rd ranked skater in the SinBin VGK Prospect Rankings.
he better get out NOW before Puckin’ acts and drafts him or bans
travel or does something else restricting movement.
THE hockey GOD
pukin that is, aka vladof putler
vlad pukin’
putin= anti christ.
Daryl
Where does VGK stand compared to other teams when scoring first? No this isn’t a negative comment. We all know teams that score first have a better chance, I’d just like to know where they rank with the other teams