New Game Preview: Golden Knights vs Sabres

Game Preview: Golden Knights vs Sabres

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Golden Knights (32-22-8) vs Sabres (29-26-8)

With a dominating 3-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, the Las Vegas Golden Knights are proving they are currently the hottest team in the NHL.

Tying their second-longest win streak as a franchise with seven now, Las Vegas has positioned themselves at the top of the Pacific Division with a 4 point cushion between them with 78 points and Vancouver with 74. But Las Vegas isn’t done. With the playoff picture becoming more evident, the Golden Knights have hit a stride at the right time to keep themselves in a prime position to remain the top seed in the Pacific. The Vegas Golden Knights look now to the visiting Buffalo Sabres, a team that has struggled late in the season with limited weapons on offense. A majority of the teams’ points come from star player Jack Eichel who leads the team in all major offensive categories with 77 points, 35 goals, and 45 assists. Without a doubt, Jack Eichel is the Sabres’ best player, and if they want to win, the game plane will have to flow through him.

However, the Golden Knights are clicking on all cylinders, even though tonight they’ll be without All-Star Mark Stone, who’s out with a lower-body injury. The Golden Knights have proven they are not a one-trick pony; many of the players on the team have contributed to the squads’ offensive success. Players like Left winger Will Carrier, who this week signed a four year 1.4 million dollar extension to his contract with the Golden Knights. Max Pacioretty, who against Edmonton scored his 30th goal of the season, marking the 6th time in his career he has accomplished that feat, is the second player in the league to have six plus 30 goal seasons behind only Alex Ovechkin who has nine.

With an addition to the defensive side of the puck with Alec Martinez and Goalie Robin Lehner, acquired last week from the Chicago Blackhawks, the Golden Knights are arguably the most balanced team in the league coming into Friday nights game. But with Mark Stone sitting the game out to rest up for more important games in the future, The Golden Knights are not without suitable replacements that can help take over a game. Reilly Smith and Alex Tuch, who is finally healthy after sitting out a third of the season due to injury,  have accounted for 50 points, 25 goals and assists apiece. Buffalo will see a Golden Knights team that will push the puck into the opposing zone, attacking the goal. The Knights are still able to disrupt the opponent’s offensive game plan with physicality and relentless pursuit of the puck.

The game will take place at T-Mobile Arena, tonight, and this will be the second game of a five-game homestead for the Knights before they go onto play five straight away games, all of which are against division opponents. For now, the Golden Knights have to focus on expanding the lead they have on the division, keeping division threats Vancouver and Edmonton off their tail. For Vegas, there is no better time than right now to catch a stride, and the Sabre game will be some nice padding onto their impressive second half of the season.

Golden Knights vs Sabres     Golden Knights vs Sabres     Golden Knights vs Sabres   Golden Knights vs Sabres

Vegas! If you want another great place to watch the game, head to Al’s Garage in Summerlin. There are multiple televisions to watch all the games. On the weekends Al’s has “Happy Hour” starting at 9 AM and ending at 9 PM. Al’s Garage is located at 11760 W. Charleston Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada 89135. Tell them, “The Franchise sent you!!”

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