The Vegas Golden Knights are gearing up for a highly anticipated rematch against the Utah Mammoth on Monday, following their convincing 4-1 victory over Utah just days earlier. The previous encounter featured a standout performance from the Knights, highlighted by a dominant three-goal second period that set the tone for the game.
Tensions are expected to be high as the Mammoth aim to respond with a fierce performance, particularly after a key incident involving Knights’ left winger Cole Reinhardt. During Thursday’s game, Reinhardt delivered a clean and hard hit on Mammoth center Kevin Stenlund, which resulted in backlash from the Mammoth bench. Stenlund was forced to exit but returned later wearing a protective face shield during practice.
Reinhardt’s hit not only drew the ire of the Mammoth but also sparked a response from Utah’s Brandon Tanev, who received a penalty for a cross-check against Reinhardt. This incident compounded the physical nature of the game, with a combined total of 32 penalty minutes being recorded, 16 of which occurred during the second period alone.
As the Golden Knights head into this rematch, Reinhardt anticipates needing to defend himself. He commented on the physical nature of the game and indicated that he might have to take action early in the game. This mentality follows his trend of drawing penalties consistently throughout the season, including in four consecutive games leading up to their recent match against the Anaheim Ducks.
On the ice, the Knights are looking to continue their strong performances, especially after a tough overtime loss to the Ducks, which marked their seventh overtime defeat of the season. Despite this setback, the team has maintained points in six consecutive games and managed to secure points in their last six away games as well.
The Mammoth hold an 11-8-3 record, compared to the Knights’ 10-4-7, establishing a competitive atmosphere for their upcoming clash. The Knights will need to replicate their defensive success from Thursday’s game to neutralize Utah’s talented forwards, who struggled to make an impact in the last matchup.
Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy expressed awareness of the potential for a motivated response from the Mammoth, noting that teams often increase their intensity when seeking redemption. As the two teams face off again, fans can expect an electrifying game at the Delta Center.
The matchup is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, and viewers can catch the action on KMCC-34 or listen through KKGK (1340 AM/98.9 FM).