Do the Vegas Golden Knights have what it takes to dominate the Western Conference?
Frank Seravalli was joined by Mike McKenna to discuss the Vegas Golden Knights and their chances of victory against their second round opponent on the latest episode of Daily Faceoff Live.
Frank Seravalli: Let’s talk about the Vegas Golden Knights, as mentioned off the top of the show the first team to punch their ticket to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. They were just all over the Winnipeg Jets from puck drop until the end. What did you like most about the Golden Knights seizing their opportunity?
Mike McKenna: I think this just goes to Mark Stone, game one of this series Stone comes back after missing 39 games he did not look like himself. He looked slow and hesitant and all of those things. Well, now you flip it over to the last couple of games, really the last four games of the series and look at the results. Eight points in four games and +5. But it’s really the combination that he has with Chandler Stephenson, you have Brett Howden on that line that’s made that team go.
They needed to have that, he’s been phenomenal when he’s been back in the lineup. And even last night, the Golden Knights were missing two of their main defensemen. Brayden McNabb is out, looks like his ribs have taken a beating, Theodore is sick. And they made a gutsy call to take Kessel out of the lineup. Vegas has not just been resilient, but they’ve gotten things done early. And for 50 minutes of that game last night, they ran Winnipeg and so I feel like for me with Vegas that is not only healthy, but playing to their best ability and they’ve got three lines deep, now four with Carrier back in the lineup.
They can play just about any style, it’s been pretty impressive out of Vegas and Brossoit has been solid in net.
Frank Seravalli: So when you look at Vegas and I’ve seen this refrain over the last few days with people saying well if Colorado loses, the West is wide open. Hey, Edmonton Oilers come on down. How different would that second round matchup be if the Oilers were to advance against the Kings knowing that this Vegas team that you might see if you’re Edmonton is a lot different with Stone in the lineup than the one that you kind of beat up on toward the end of the regular season.
Mike McKenna: It’s a lot different and it’s going to place the emphasis on Mattias Ekholm and the core in Edmonton. They’ve shown that they will go 11 forwards 7 defensemen no problem but I think with Edmonton you’ve got a whole different animal because they’re so much faster. They’re lighter on their skates, more creative than Winnipeg. Winnipeg has to grind out wins, not quite the same way with Edmonton. They can beat you with skill.
Vegas wouldn’t be able to give them any space on the ice whereas they had more margin of error with the Jets.
Frank Seravalli: So who would you have as the favourite to open that next round?
Mike McKenna: I’d still take Edmonton, I’d take Edmonton if that is the case but hey we still got the L.A. Kings in the mix and they’ve been a thorn in Vegas’ side too so whoever comes out of that series is going to be a lot to handle.
You can watch the rest of the episode here…