As Christmas Day approaches, the Vegas Golden Knights find themselves in a challenging situation, seeking to turn their fortunes around. On Tuesday, December 23, the team will return to their home ice at T-Mobile Arena to face off against their divisional rivals, the San Jose Sharks, with puck drop slated for 7:00 PM PST.
The Golden Knights have had a rough patch recently, suffering defeats during their quick weekend outings against the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. The situation has been exacerbated by the absences of key players Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore. In a bid to strengthen their lineup, Dylan Coghlan has been called up to help bolster the team. The Golden Knights are hopeful that returning home will provide the necessary spark to regain some momentum.
To turn their season around, the Golden Knights must focus on starting strong. Their last two games saw them falling into early deficits of four goals, making it nearly impossible to mount a comeback. Head Coach Bruce Cassidy is emphasizing the need for his team to hit the ice aggressively from the first puck drop in order to remain competitive in the game.
An interesting development ahead of the matchup is the inclusion of Alexander Holtz, who has been given another chance to prove himself on a line with two of the team’s hottest forwards, Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev. Holtz, who has struggled this season without any points in eight games, is well aware that he needs to capitalize on this opportunity to secure a lasting role with the team.
Despite the Sharks showing improvement this season compared to previous years, the Golden Knights have dominated their recent encounters, winning the last nine matchups against San Jose, including both games played this season. The Sharks, however, are just on the brink of a playoff spot and will be eager to spoil the Golden Knights’ ambitions. With the Pacific Division in a state of uncertainty, this game represents a critical opportunity for the Golden Knights to reaffirm their position among the NHL’s elite teams.