(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

I’m assuming most Golden Knights fans have a daily routine of checking the latest NHL standings, league leaders and Vegas player stats. Oh, and SinBin.vegas of course. If you’re one of those people then you might notice some unfamiliar point leaders seven games into the season.

Some of Vegas’ depth players are having the fastest starts to their careers. Players that most think are bottom six, PK’ers or checking forwards are pleasantly surprising the coaching staff and fanbase.

Tomas Nosek has four points (3 Goals, 1 Assist) in eight games. Nosek’s career high in goals is eight, so he’s halfway there with 74 games remaining. Last season, Nosek didn’t register his fourth point until November, 27th. His third goal of the 2018-19 wasn’t scored until December, 12th.

William Carrier is on pace for around 15 goals this season, that would almost double his career-best (8 goals), which he set last season. Carrier didn’t score his first or second goals until mid-November of last year. The bruising fourth line forward had a total of nine points (8 goals, 1 assist) in 2018-19, he’s already tied his assist number from last year and is projected to crush his career totals. Hopefully, in games played as well.

Heck, even Reilly Smith with five goals on the year is on to his fastest start. He scored his fifth goal Tuesday night, his fifth goal in any other season didn’t come before November.

With an eight game sample size, I’m aware statistical numbers are skewed. So why are depth player stats so important to the Golden Knights Cup chase? Well, it all comes down to wins and loses.

Golden Knights are 14-2-1 all-time when Nosek scores, and 2-1 in the postseason. When Carrier scores, Vegas is 9-1-1 all-time. I’m no statistician but those are significant winning percentages.

Now we wait and see if their hot starts turn into career bests, or the law of averages balances itself over a full 82 game season. I can guarantee one thing, if the fourth line boys keep scoring there will be a career-high in articles written about them too.