(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
This season the Golden Knights are embarking on a historic run defending their championship. The wins, points, comebacks, and chemistry are all there to push VGK towards another deep playoff run. It’s not without adversity too. Vegas has played three 2023 playoff teams, three road games, and six Western Conference clubs. Despite all of the little challenges, the Champs are 7-0-0 to start the season.
Currently, the Stanley Cup champions are wrapping up a unique test they’ve never faced over their first seven years. The Golden Knights are about to dress for their 6th different start time in eight games with no two consecutive games starting at the same time.
- Tuesday, October 10th: 8:16 PM
- Thursday, October 12th: 7:39 PM
- Saturday, October 14th: 7:08 PM
- Tuesday, October 17th: 7:38 PM
- Thursday, October 19th: 5:08 PM
- Saturday, October 21st: 5:16 PM
- Tuesday, October 24th: 8:17 PM
- Friday, October 27th: **Scheduled for 3:07 PM**
Clearly, the league is trying to showcase their latest Cup winner to start the 2023-24 season. Why wouldn’t they? The Golden Knights are proof positive of the NHL’s latest successful expansion era and the team so happens to reside in Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada.
Also, the schedule makers happened to slide in two early meetings between Vegas and the Chicago Blackhawks that were/are scheduled for prime time. It’s not a bad way to spotlight the league’s best team with the latest number-one pick overall. The results favored the Golden Knights, but the NHL wasn’t concerned with the outcome. As long as Bedard and Vegas were the focus, the score was secondary. For all of those marketing reasons, Vegas is forced to participate in adjusted start times.
Beginning on October 30th, the Golden Knights will play five out of six games at their normal start time of 7:07 PM. However, the Cup champs will have another stretch of eight inconsistent scheduled puck drops in mid-November and a six-game batch in February.
There are a dozen more nationally televised games mixed into Vegas’ regular season, but the reigning champs have proven they’ll succeed whatever time the league decides to drop the damn puck.
Jailbird
Amen. Just drop that damn puck!
Hockeydiva
IT IS AS IT SHOULD BE…THENHL is correctly marketing the CHAMPS no matter what the start time is OUR KNIGHTS are center stage
TS
Sidenote: Petro skated in full gear, no restrictions today( Thursday) at Practice.
Good to see him back. Hopefully he plays Friday..
knights fan in minny
roy out for friday i just read time for pav to step up big
Jailbird
I mentioned after the game the Tuesday that Roy had went down the tunnel and didn’t return. Was hoping it was nothing lasting. About time petro gets back. Been two weeks. So, injuries are going to continue it seems. Others in Henderson will get playing time!
TS
JB, I did NOT see Roy at today’s practice. He may very well be hurt.
knights fan in minny
smitty with 2 lamp lighters tonight
TS
Good for Smith. I liked him, miss him here. The business of Sports is cruel, really sucks.
knights fan in minny
loved watching smitty and wildbill kill penalties
TS
Minny. Just read your post on Roy’s Friday scratch…dang.
Pistol Pete
Fwiw Vegas stands alone at 7-0-0. Bruins 6-0-1 lose in OT to the Ducks in Boston and Avs 6-1-0 lose to the Penguins in Pittsburgh. I realize this does not matter a lot but three teams starting 6-0 has got to be rare.
Jailbird
With Roy out, Doro gets another chance. Petro back.
Tim
It looks like our D is 10 men deep our centers and forwards not so much. With Roy out and Dorofeyev a decant replacement then what. We don’t really have a next man up after that. We need one more skilled center/forward player to provide depth.
Pistol Pete
Tim check out Grigori Denisenko the 23 year-old #15 pick we claimed on waivers from Florida. When Tkachuk went out he was the one to get the call up playing on the 4th line game 5 getting a look early in the game. He’s 2 G/5 A in six games in Henderson. Only Rempal who looks like an AHL lifer at the age of 28 is ahead of him in points. Brisson has 3 G/1 A in the six games. He’s maybe a couple inches shorter and 5 lb. lighter than Brisson but it’s my understanding Denisenko is faster with excellent hands.
Pistol Pete
The issue according to this is defending, size and strength on the puck. Presumably he knows all about this and us working on it in Henderson. He simply has no shot on the VGK if he does not get strong on the puck.
https://thehockeywriters.com/panthers-denisenko-boom-bust-potential/No no
Jailbird
I think “Deny” will get a shot if more injuries happen!