The Vegas Golden Knights handed the Carolina Hurricanes their first loss of the season on Monday night, with a 4-1 victory at T-Mobile Arena. It was a statement win for a strong squad that leaned on star striker Jack Eichel to maintain its strong streak, alongside steady goaltending from Adin Hill and Akira Schmid, the latter of whom was in need due to injury.
Even as injuries piled up, the 2023 Stanley Cup champions showed that their depth, structure and composure remain championship-caliber, and that their offense can even shine when facing an elite opponent.
1. The Knights remain golden on offense led by Jack Eichel
The Golden Knights came into Monday’s game with a strong offensive surge. Eichel opened the scoring when his pass went in on a Hurricane defender, giving the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead at 8:42 of the first period. That goal marked his sixth of the season, while he still leads the league with 16 points.
The supporting cast also contributed: Ivan Barbashev had a goal and an assist, and Pavel Dorofeyev scored his seventh of the year, tying him at three points for the NHL lead. William Karlsson closed the match with an empty-netter, which marked a new milestone for him with his 400th point with the team.
This offensive surge came against a Hurricanes squad that was the last remaining undefeated (5-0-0) squad (and our top ranked team) heading into the match. The Golden Knights broke that streak and confirmed their ability to score against a step forward in the league.
They click in transition, with Eichel’s play setting the tone. But the team’s depth in scoring means they are not reliant on just one line – a key advantage as the season progresses.
2. The woes of goalkeeping may be exaggerated
With starting goalkeeper Adin Hill left (after four saves) with a lower body injury at 9:54 of the first period, the alarm bells went off. However, Schmid came in and calmly stopped 22 of 23 shots, improving his record to 4-0-0 and helping Vegas hold the Hurricanes to one goal.
“It’s difficult and easy at the same time [to come into the game cold]”, Schmid said via NHL.com. “You just jump in. You don’t think about it too much, like you might do when you start. You just play a little bit and see how it goes.”
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Schmid’s performances suggest that the perception of a vulnerable goalkeeping tandem may be exaggerated, at least for now. While Hill’s injury is a concern, the Golden Knights have shown they have the depth and composure in net to absorb that loss and still perform at a high level.
The hosts held a powerful ‘Canes attack to one goal, while the change of goalkeeper midway through the match affected both the team’s overall defense and Schmid’s poise. The young netminder has now had two strong games in a row and continues to prove that his stellar preseason performances were no fluke.
3. The injuries continue, but the Golden Knights are coping for now
Heading into the game, the Golden Knights were without captain Mark Stone, who was placed on injured reserve with a wrist injury on Monday and is considered week-to-week. In addition, the club is already missing defender Noah Hanifin and center Brett Howden.
But despite the mounting absences, the Golden Knights showed resilience after Hill left the game. They shuffled lines, leaned on depth players and still produced at both ends of the ice. Stone’s absence means someone else will have to step up. The team responded with a balanced score and a tight defensive performance.
The willingness of the supporting cast to fill the void and maintain structure suggests the Pacific Division leaders may be better positioned than most to weather this injury. While the losses will inevitably matter throughout the long season, Monday’s performance once again highlights how balanced and deep the Golden Knights’ roster is.
What’s next for the Golden Knights?
The win puts the Golden Knights atop the NHL with 12 points. They’ll get a four-day break as they travel east to Florida, where they’ll face the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning in a back-to-back set starting Saturday.
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