IceNeophyte
Registered User
- Nov 14, 2017
- 10,006
- 7,313
Well, maybe optimistic
Last year through 19 games, the Golden Knights had achieved 25 points. This year through the same games, we only have 17. Disaster right?
But let’s look at it from a different perspective. Last year, all the pundits were discussing how the NHL front-loaded our schedule to be easier to give the team a running start building a fanbase. No one expected the level of success we would achieve even with a favorable schedule in the first quarter of the season. While the home-road mix is fairly even (9-10 last year vs 8-11 this year), it can be argued that the opponents were stronger. Notwithstanding our scoring drought and GG’s affinity for Merrill, I have been tracking our results this year against the same team same venue last year, disregarding when during the season that match-up happened last year. Here is what I have:
Game – Last Yr Pts – This Yr Pts
PHI@VGK - 0 – 0
VGK@MIN - 0 - 2
VGK@BUF - 2 - 0
VGK@WSH - 2 - 0
VGK@PIT - 0 - 0
VGK@PHI - 2 - 2
BUF@VGK - 2 - 2
ANA@VGK 1st – 2 - 2
VAN@VGK - 2 - 1
TBL@VGK - 2 - 0
OTT@VGK – 0 - 2
VGK@NSH – 2 - 0
VGK@STL – 0 - 0
CAR@VGK – 1 - 2
VGK@TOR – 1 - 0
VGK@OTT – 2 - 2
VGK@MTL – 0 - 0
VGK@BOS – 0 - 0
ANA@VGK 2d – 0 - 2
Total – 20 – 17
So with injury woes and a debilitating suspension, we are 3 points shy of last year when compared to same match ups. We won a couple we had lost last year, we lost a few we had won last year. Last year, we suffered injuries to skaters in the Spring that led to stretches of 8 and 13 games at .500. Our injuries are worse and earlier this year, but if the guys we have keep putting it together, we could conceivably end the year close to where we did last season.
With the help of solid gold pads, I have confidence they will be in the mix even without Haula and Stastny. 6 of our next 7 are against Pacific foes. If we can pull off a run here, the rocky start will be behind the team. If we can't compete against Pacific teams, then the team is what it is and it becomes a race for first overall draft pick anyway.
Schmidt rejoining should improve our blue line, and if Carpenter keeps playing like he did last night, the team is actually icing competitive lines, all things considered. Fourth line continues to be an absolute joy to watch, whether they score or not. Eakin has so far made me regret every criticism I made of him last year.
I’ve also been tracking Karlsson’s production. Sparing you the details, he is at 4-10-14 so far this year, compared to 9-7-16 first 19 games last year and 6-7-13 compared to same matchups and venues last year. So, his demise has been slightly exaggerated. 2 points behind or 1 point ahead of last year so far, depending on your perspective. He had a goal (OT game winner) and an assist when STL played here last year, so this comparison will look worse after tomorrow night if he doesn't produce. A hattie tomorrow night would be a welcome gift, but whatever funk Smith is also in, he needs to get out of it for WK to succeed.
Last year through 19 games, the Golden Knights had achieved 25 points. This year through the same games, we only have 17. Disaster right?
But let’s look at it from a different perspective. Last year, all the pundits were discussing how the NHL front-loaded our schedule to be easier to give the team a running start building a fanbase. No one expected the level of success we would achieve even with a favorable schedule in the first quarter of the season. While the home-road mix is fairly even (9-10 last year vs 8-11 this year), it can be argued that the opponents were stronger. Notwithstanding our scoring drought and GG’s affinity for Merrill, I have been tracking our results this year against the same team same venue last year, disregarding when during the season that match-up happened last year. Here is what I have:
Game – Last Yr Pts – This Yr Pts
PHI@VGK - 0 – 0
VGK@MIN - 0 - 2
VGK@BUF - 2 - 0
VGK@WSH - 2 - 0
VGK@PIT - 0 - 0
VGK@PHI - 2 - 2
BUF@VGK - 2 - 2
ANA@VGK 1st – 2 - 2
VAN@VGK - 2 - 1
TBL@VGK - 2 - 0
OTT@VGK – 0 - 2
VGK@NSH – 2 - 0
VGK@STL – 0 - 0
CAR@VGK – 1 - 2
VGK@TOR – 1 - 0
VGK@OTT – 2 - 2
VGK@MTL – 0 - 0
VGK@BOS – 0 - 0
ANA@VGK 2d – 0 - 2
Total – 20 – 17
So with injury woes and a debilitating suspension, we are 3 points shy of last year when compared to same match ups. We won a couple we had lost last year, we lost a few we had won last year. Last year, we suffered injuries to skaters in the Spring that led to stretches of 8 and 13 games at .500. Our injuries are worse and earlier this year, but if the guys we have keep putting it together, we could conceivably end the year close to where we did last season.
With the help of solid gold pads, I have confidence they will be in the mix even without Haula and Stastny. 6 of our next 7 are against Pacific foes. If we can pull off a run here, the rocky start will be behind the team. If we can't compete against Pacific teams, then the team is what it is and it becomes a race for first overall draft pick anyway.
Schmidt rejoining should improve our blue line, and if Carpenter keeps playing like he did last night, the team is actually icing competitive lines, all things considered. Fourth line continues to be an absolute joy to watch, whether they score or not. Eakin has so far made me regret every criticism I made of him last year.
I’ve also been tracking Karlsson’s production. Sparing you the details, he is at 4-10-14 so far this year, compared to 9-7-16 first 19 games last year and 6-7-13 compared to same matchups and venues last year. So, his demise has been slightly exaggerated. 2 points behind or 1 point ahead of last year so far, depending on your perspective. He had a goal (OT game winner) and an assist when STL played here last year, so this comparison will look worse after tomorrow night if he doesn't produce. A hattie tomorrow night would be a welcome gift, but whatever funk Smith is also in, he needs to get out of it for WK to succeed.