There are many reasons for the Golden Knights offensive success. Let’s start with the number of Vegas players having career years. Secondly, younger players are quickly blossoming with more ice time and room to grow. Lastly, the Golden Knights are getting help from their offensive depth.
Look at that photo. That’s depth scoring at its finest. (Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
This season, Vegas has scored 114 goals. They’re tied for the fifth best total in the league. Even more impressive is VGK’s (3.45) goals per game, which is ranked third behind Tampa (3.76) and the New York Islanders (3.51).
Gerard Gallant is blessed to have the depth scoring his team has. Six Golden Knights have more than 20 points. Only nine other NHL teams can claim that.
NHL Teams with six or more Players with 20+ points:
Tampa: 9 Players
Nashville: 8 Players
NY Rangers: 7 Players
Vegas: 6 Players
Los Angeles: 6 Players
Pittsburgh: 6 Players
NY Islanders: 6 Players
St. Louis: 6 Players
Toronto: 6 Players
To go even deeper, the Golden Knights have 14 players with 10+ Points. Only Winnipeg (15 Players), Chicago, Columbus, and the New York Rangers have depth scoring like Vegas.
Of course, we’re all aware of the offensive success from their top two lines. Erik Haula, James Neal and David Perron have done their job scoring 37 this season. VGK’s second trio of William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, and Reilly Smith have one less with 36 goals. Which means 41 tallies were scored by defensemen and bottom line forwards. Twenty separate players (including Vadim Shipachyov) have scored for Vegas.
Alex Tuch 7 Goals
Oscar Lindberg 6 Goals
Colin Miller 5 Goals
Cody Eakin 4 Goals
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare 3 Goals
Deryk Engelland 3 Goals
Tomas Nosek 3 Goals
Nate Schmidt 2 Goals
Brayden McNabb 2 Goals
Shea Theodore 2 Goals
Luca Sbisa 1 Goal
William Carrier 1 Goal
Jon Merrill 1 Goal
Vadim Shipachyov 1 Goal
(41 Goals)
Depth offense gives flexibility to the coaching staff. Gallant confidently plays all four lines for a reason. The versatility of players like Tuch, Eakin, Lindberg, and Bellemare allow for in-game options. Defensively, players like Miller and Theodore can jump up in the action and become a fourth offensive weapon.
Depth scoring can make or break a team in the postseason. For example, Nashville made a deep playoff run with help from 19 separate goal scorers. The Predators also had 23 players with one or more postseason points. The 2017 Stanley Cup champions Pittsburgh Penguins had 18 different players with a goal, not to mention, the Pens received at least one postseason point from 22 players.
The Golden Knights have the same makeup to get full roster production in the playoffs. And here I go… talking about the postseason.
Brian
Talk away…….. !! #CupIn1