This year, it’s hard to escape the phrase “condensed schedule.” Due to the Olympic break forcing the league to take almost three weeks off in the middle of the season, the NHL had to jam 82 games into a shorter span than ever before. From players to coaches to media, it’s a topic that seems to find its way into any and all analysis about team and player performance this year.
What if I were to tell you, though, the most condensed part of the schedule hasn’t even happened yet?
This first portion of the season is one of the more jammed portions of schedule in Vegas history, but it’s not the leader, and it pales in comparison to what’s to come.
Thus far, the Golden Knights have played 57 games in 121 days, for a rate of 2.12 days per game. The final 25 games will be played over a span of just 50 days or 2.00 days per game.
| Season Segment | Days | Games | Days/Game | Record | Points Percentage | Days/25 games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25-26 First | 121 | 57 | 2.12 | 27-16-14 | 0.596 | 53.0 |
| 25-26 Second | 50 | 25 | 2.00 | 50.0 | ||
| 24-25 First | 123 | 56 | 2.20 | 33-17-6 | 0.643 | 55.0 |
| 24-25 Second | 54 | 26 | 2.08 | 17-5-4 | 0.731 | 52.0 |
| 23-24 First | 110 | 50 | 2.20 | 29-15-6 | 0.640 | 55.0 |
| 23-24 Second | 73 | 32 | 2.28 | 16-14-2 | 0.531 | 57.0 |
| 22-23 First | 110 | 51 | 2.16 | 29-18-4 | 0.608 | 54.0 |
| 22-23 Second | 66 | 31 | 2.13 | 22-4-5 | 0.790 | 53.3 |
| 21-22 First | 113 | 46 | 2.46 | 27-16-3 | 0.620 | 61.5 |
| 21-22 Second | 81 | 36 | 2.25 | 16-15-5 | 0.514 | 56.3 |
| 20-21 Full | 119 | 56 | 2.13 | 40-14-2 | 0.732 | 53.1 |
| 19-20 First | 112 | 52 | 2.15 | 25-20-7 | 0.548 | 53.8 |
| 19-20 Second | 39 | 19 | 2.05 | 14-4-1 | 0.763 | 51.3 |
| 18-19 First | 112 | 52 | 2.15 | 29-19-4 | 0.596 | 53.8 |
| 18-19 Second | 65 | 30 | 2.17 | 14-13-3 | 0.517 | 54.2 |
| 17-18 First | 94 | 41 | 2.29 | 29-10-2 | 0.732 | 57.3 |
| 17-18 Second | 85 | 41 | 2.07 | 22-14-5 | 0.598 | 51.8 |
Oddly enough, the first “half” of last year’s schedule, due to 4 Nations, was a bit more condensed than this year’s. The most condensed portion so far was the last 19 games of the third season, which was cut short due to COVID. And, surprisingly, VGK’s first 41 games were actually more congested than the first 57 games thus far this season.
Statistically, there’s no significant correlation between tighter or more spread-out segments of the schedule for the Golden Knights. Their most successful segment occurred when they played games every 2.13 days while their next most was the most jam-packed one when they played once every 2.05 days.
It’s going to be a big topic of conversation when the games start up after the players return from the Olympics, but for the Golden Knights, it shouldn’t be a determining factor in whether they achieve their goals the rest of the way or not.
hdbiker7851
Probably the only issue could be injuries which happen to the star women Canadian player yesterday. Let’s hope all the Knights return in good shape = maybe a little tired but no injuries. I am more concerned about the balance of the team as for whatever reason long layoff don’t sit well and the team seems to do better the busier, they are
Emmanuel
Thats also balanced out by guys getting rested, healing & days burned on IR without losing games.
JB
USA women dominate Canada today. Looking unbeatable!
TS
JB, Historic shutout vs Canada, 5-0!
FYI: 1st Men’s game is Feb.12, 12:30.pm
Eichel,
Stone& Marner look to be core players. Can’t wait!
JB
Yea me too TS. Should be fun!
Pistol Pete
I was not aware of this a very big development:
Beginning with the 2025-26 season, Western Hockey League (WHL) players, along with those in the OHL and QMJHL, are eligible for NCAA Division I hockey, overturning a 45-year ban. This seismic rule change allows major-junior players to maintain college eligibility, provided they are not compensated beyond necessary expenses.
Impact on Players: Players gain more flexibility in their development paths between major junior and U.S. college hockey.
WHL Roster Changes: WHL teams now face increased uncertainty, moving toward a year-to-year roster planning approach rather than long-term, as top talent may move to the NCAA.
Effective Date: The eligibility rule went into effect for the 2025-26 season,, making this a “year unlike anything we have ever seen” for college hockey.
Key Constraint: This eligibility applies to NCAA Division I only, not Division III.
This change has already initiated a “tug-of-war” for talent and is expected to raise the competitive level of NCAA hockey.
Tim
Interesting Vegas getting a NBA team unbelievable. We’ll have all 4 major sports here and there going to get a soccer team eventually. In 1965 when I came here after my tour in the army people asked why are you going to Las Vegas theres nothing there except casinos. Well obviously I made the right move. Not to often you see a town go from nothing to some in a lifetime. It happened in California if you were there in th 1940’s after the war until 1960. Then Phoenix in the late 1950’s through the 1960’s. Then our little cow town which started populating from the mid 1960’s through the 1970’s. My wife came to Vegas from California in 1958 Vegas Population 50 thousand. So some people like the old days well I liked the old days but also loved what our little town turned into. I’ve been fortunate enough to have 3 generations born in Vegas you don’t see that very often.
Emmanuel
The changes are mindblowing since 1994 alone, must have felt like the strip surrounded by desert in the 50s.
TS
Vegas grew up!! I got here in ’75, when Maryland Pkwy was the center of town ac tion, Blvd Mall the only mall. UNLV played basketball at the Convention Ctr– no Thomas & Mack. Remember ” Gucci Row??
And then came the great CALI Migration, and Vegas exploded..infrastructure played catch- up, housing explosion, crowded schools..
We were not exactly expecting it, and it was years before Vegas caught up.
Well, we’ve sure grown up NOW!!!
The Chosen One
That sounds amazing !!! Must be wild to live through all these beautiful changes !!
TS
Vegas grew up!! I got here in ’75, when Maryland Pkwy was the center of town ac tion, Blvd Mall the only mall. UNLV played basketball at the Convention Ctr– no Thomas & Mack. Remember ” Gucci Row??
And then came the great CALI Migration, and Vegas exploded..infrastructure played catch- up, housing explosion, crowded schools..
We were not exactly expecting it, and it was years before Vegas caught up.
Well, we’ve sure grown up NOW!!!
knights fan in minny
Today’s in practice for Canuckland has Sid centering Mitch and Stone I have USA and Sweden in the final gold medal game USa Is deep in the net and lots of depth Sweden has three lines that can skate with anybody 4th line isn’t bad They have solid 6 defensemen Hopefully the USA can win we’ll see
Larry
I moved here in 1992 and moved into a 1 bedroom apartment in the Lakes called the Breakers on West Sahara Avenue which was 1 lane in each direction, and the complex was essentially at the end of West Sahara which seemed like the end of the universe at that time, with tumbleweed blowing everywhere, to see how this place grew is nothing short of astounding!
TS
I remember when Rainbow Blvd was a lonely dirt road, lityle development west of it, as Summerlin wasn’t built yet, but there was a little bar on Oakey /Rainbow, Mr. D’s, which stood alone for years. My Ex told me that all those construction workers building the new Summerlin needed a place to cool off and relax after work, and Mr, D’s was that place. Vegas exploded in those years!