The Boston Bruins are set to kick off a three-game road trip tonight as they head to Las Vegas to take on the Golden Knights, who are currently leading the Pacific Division. After enjoying a short break in sunny Nevada, the Bruins are eager to face a team that has started the season with a flurry of activity.
Vegas has made headlines recently, particularly with Jack Eichel, who just signed an impressive eight-year, $108 million contract extension. Eichel has hit the ground running this season, boasting nine points in just four games, which includes four goals. His performance is certainly catching the attention of Bruins fans, who can only speculate about a potential future where he wears a Bruins jersey.
The Golden Knights made a high-profile addition in Mitch Marner, though he is still seeking his first goal for the team. However, Marner’s contributions have not gone unnoticed as he has tallied four assists in the early part of the season. Another standout player for Vegas is Pavel Dorofeyev, who has had a remarkable start with five goals in the first four games. Last season, Dorofeyev set a personal best with 35 goals and 52 points, indicating he is continuing to build on his success.
Former Bruin Jeremy Lauzon joined the Golden Knights this summer after spending four seasons with the Nashville Predators, adding another layer of familiarity to the matchup. The narrative around Vegas this season has been filled with excitement; they started the season with a thrilling 6-5 shootout loss in their opener and have since had two overtime games—one win and one loss. Their most recent outing saw the team overcome a 2-0 deficit to secure a 4-2 win against Calgary.
However, not everything is smooth sailing for Vegas. Goalie Adin Hill left their last game due to a lower-body injury, which could add strain to their roster, while Massachusetts native Noah Hanifin has been sidelined since the season opener.
As the Bruins prepare to face the Golden Knights tonight, anticipation is building for a competitive showdown between these two teams, each eager to build on early season momentum while dealing with their own unique challenges.