Since Pete DeBoer took over as head coach of the Golden Knights, one aspect of the game they’ve been consistently excellent at is penalty killing.
In today’s film breakdown, we show how VGK’s commitment to taking away a single pass on the penalty kill limits the amount of space the Golden Knights must defend, neutralizes one player on the opposing power play, and leads to VGK having one of the strongest penalty kills in the league.
No matter who you play in the postseason, breaking out of the defensive zone well is a prerequisite to winning a playoff series. The Golden Knights have been better at it than Colorado through the first four games of this Second Round.
In today’s film breakdown, we show how and why Vegas have succeeded while illustrating an example of the Avalance’s failure.
The Golden Knights turned things around from Game 1 to Game 2 defensively. One of the main reasons for the difference was the way they were attacking the Avs speed through the neutral zone.
In today’s film breakdown, we look at the importance of gap control, and especially early gaps, against the Colorado Avalanche.
Nathan MacKinnon is a superstar in the NHL and the Golden Knights must always be aware of him on the ice. An uncommon wrinkle to his game is something Vegas must be especially keen of.
In this film breakdown, I take a look at exactly how the Avalanche get MacKinnon to a dangerous place on the ice with the puck and how difficult it is to defend.
The Golden Knights needed one heck of a response to get into Game 3 and boy did they deliver it in the 2nd period. From down 2-0 (could have been 3-0), the Golden Knights stormed back to score three 2nd period goals and five unanswered.
The keys to the turning of the tide was in the details, which I point out in this episode of film breakdown.
The newest Golden Knight has made an immediate impact in Vegas seeing time on both the 2nd and 3rd lines and contributing a goal and two assists in six games.
It’s the style of play that has impressed me the most though, and that’s exactly what I highlight in today’s film breakdown.
This season the Golden Knights boast one of the best penalty-killing units in the NHL. That’s a stat that’s highlighted every single night. “Killing” against the empty-net is not thrust into the spotlight nearly as much, but it’s a place the Golden Knights are equally as good.
It starts with having great personnel to get the job done, which the Golden Knights do. They have used 13 players for more than four minutes in 5-on-6 situations. They are also committed to blocking shots and exiting the zone rather than hunting the empty net goals. Beyond all that, they are structurally excellent, which I break down here…
Nic Roy has had an up and down year going from the 3rd line to the 4th to even being a healthy scratch a few games recently. Roy has just one goal and one assist in 19 games played, but he’s looked like a different player when matched up with Alex Tuch than he has anywhere else.
Tuch and Roy first found themselves together last year and it clicked instantaneously. Here’s my film breakdown showing why these two have been so good together and why they need to stay together moving forward.
When the Golden Knights signed Zach Whitecloud as an undrafted college free agent out of Bemidji State, the hope was for him to turn into a defense-first option at the NHL level. During his early stint with the Golden Knights and a couple of years with the Chicago Wolves, that’s exactly what he was.
But, since Pete DeBoer took over and Whitecloud has become a staple in the lineup, he’s starting to show some offensive flair. Here’s my film breakdown showing his excellent ability to read and react to plays.
Defensive defenseman Zach Whitecloud?
No way! Whitecloud's offensive instincts have been on display all year.
Here's a film breakdown illustrating them. pic.twitter.com/wbG2GVRwsa
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) February 19, 2021
Coming into the season one of the biggest concerns for the Golden Knights was center depth. With Chandler Stephenson set to fill the role as the top center and options like Cody Glass, Nic Roy, and Tomas Nosek behind Stephenson and William Karlsson, we knew Stephenson needed to be great for this team to succeed.
So far, Stephenson has been just that and the more I watch him the more I realize why his skill set fits perfectly between Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty. In the pantheon of the NHL, Stephenson would still rank all that highly among the #1 centers in the league, but for this team and that line, he’s the perfect fit.
Chandler Stephenson is a legit #1 center…when his wingers are Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty.
Here's my film breakdown of why. pic.twitter.com/yguo5lXQ6u
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) February 9, 2021
VGK to win Pacific Division
+240
VGK to win Western Conference
+350
VGK to win Stanley Cup
+850
DeBoer says Nolan Patrick is taking positive steps but "I wouldn't call him close."
The latest update from DeBoer on Martinez is essentially that he's dealing more with a head injury than the cut to the face at this point.
He didn't use the word concussion but it sounds like they are treating it that way.
William Karlsson is in COVID Protocols.
"I think they've been our best players. With what we've gone through I think our goaltenders have been the backbone of the team." -DeBoer on Lehner and Brossoit
Photo courtesy of Cox Communications
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