http://www.wrongsideoftheredline.co...ng-one-of-the-stories-on-first-trip-to-vegas/
November 27, 2017 Sean ShapiroLeave a Comment
FRISCO, Texas ? The Vegas Golden Knights have been one NHL?s best stories two months into the season.
The expansion franchise is leading the Pacific Division with 31 points, have had success with four different starting goalies, and have looked unbeatable on home ice at T-Mobile Arena.
It?s turned what may have been pre-conceived as an easy game before the season into a difficult challenge for the Stars, who have struggled mightily on the road (3-8-1).
A trip to Las Vegas also comes with other temptations not available in other NHL cities, and it may have helped aid the Golden Knights during their 9-1-0 start on home ice.
?We?ve heard the stories, and we don?t want to be any of the stories,? Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said.
The Stars also aren?t taking anything away from the Golden Knights, who have won five straight games. When Hitchcock looks at Vegas, he sees a very good hockey team.
?They?re for real, I think it?s for the rest of us to catch-up,? Hitchcock said. ?They got a lot of depth. If they get scored on they score their way out of games, and if they need to shut a game down they can shut a game down. That?s hockey intelligence and that?s very unique.?
What goes into that success for Vegas?
?Skill, smarts, hockey sense, good players,? Hitchcock said. ?When a player plays in the two or three role, you don?t know if he can play up above, because he wasn?t given the opportunity because there were other people ahead of him.
?But when you look at some of their players who have been given this opportunity to play up the latter, they look like they?re comfortable doing it. But I think when they started to pick their team, what a lot of coaches thought, when you looked at the team was intelligence and when you?re an intelligent player you can really play good hockey.?
Johns likely back
Stephen Johns is expected to play on Tuesday against the Golden Knights.
Johns missed the second half of the Friday?s 6-4 win against the Calgary Flames with an upper-body injury, but skated on his own on Sunday in Frisco and was a full participant in practice on Monday working on a pairing with Julius Honka.
Hitchcock said Johns still had to get final clearance from the training staff, but that was expected to come Monday afternoon.
Stars projected lineup for Tuesday
Devin Shore ? Jamie Benn ? Alexander Radulov
Mattias Janmark ? Tyler Seguin ? Jason Spezza
Gemel Smith ? Martin Hanzal ? Brett Ritchie
Antoine Roussel ? Radek Faksa ? Tyler Pitlick
Esa Lindell ? John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis ? Greg Patyern
Stephen Johns ? Julius Honka
Ben Bishop
Kari Lehtonen
Scratches: Remi Elie, Jamie Oleksiak
November 27, 2017 Sean ShapiroLeave a Comment
FRISCO, Texas ? The Vegas Golden Knights have been one NHL?s best stories two months into the season.
The expansion franchise is leading the Pacific Division with 31 points, have had success with four different starting goalies, and have looked unbeatable on home ice at T-Mobile Arena.
It?s turned what may have been pre-conceived as an easy game before the season into a difficult challenge for the Stars, who have struggled mightily on the road (3-8-1).
A trip to Las Vegas also comes with other temptations not available in other NHL cities, and it may have helped aid the Golden Knights during their 9-1-0 start on home ice.
?We?ve heard the stories, and we don?t want to be any of the stories,? Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said.
The Stars also aren?t taking anything away from the Golden Knights, who have won five straight games. When Hitchcock looks at Vegas, he sees a very good hockey team.
?They?re for real, I think it?s for the rest of us to catch-up,? Hitchcock said. ?They got a lot of depth. If they get scored on they score their way out of games, and if they need to shut a game down they can shut a game down. That?s hockey intelligence and that?s very unique.?
What goes into that success for Vegas?
?Skill, smarts, hockey sense, good players,? Hitchcock said. ?When a player plays in the two or three role, you don?t know if he can play up above, because he wasn?t given the opportunity because there were other people ahead of him.
?But when you look at some of their players who have been given this opportunity to play up the latter, they look like they?re comfortable doing it. But I think when they started to pick their team, what a lot of coaches thought, when you looked at the team was intelligence and when you?re an intelligent player you can really play good hockey.?
Johns likely back
Stephen Johns is expected to play on Tuesday against the Golden Knights.
Johns missed the second half of the Friday?s 6-4 win against the Calgary Flames with an upper-body injury, but skated on his own on Sunday in Frisco and was a full participant in practice on Monday working on a pairing with Julius Honka.
Hitchcock said Johns still had to get final clearance from the training staff, but that was expected to come Monday afternoon.
Stars projected lineup for Tuesday
Devin Shore ? Jamie Benn ? Alexander Radulov
Mattias Janmark ? Tyler Seguin ? Jason Spezza
Gemel Smith ? Martin Hanzal ? Brett Ritchie
Antoine Roussel ? Radek Faksa ? Tyler Pitlick
Esa Lindell ? John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis ? Greg Patyern
Stephen Johns ? Julius Honka
Ben Bishop
Kari Lehtonen
Scratches: Remi Elie, Jamie Oleksiak
