The Vegas Golden Knights returned to their scoring ways last week after the team kicked off December with the annual Father’s Trip. The Golden Knights have a history of success when playing in front of their dads, boasting a 9-0-1 record.
Last season, fathers of the Golden Knights watched the club snap a four-game skid with consecutive victories in Nashville and Minnesota (Feb. 7-9) and ignite Vegas’ 22-4-5 run (.790 points percentage) to conclude the season and become Pacific Division Champions.
This year’s Father’s Trip proved to be the boost that the Golden Knights needed once again. Vegas struggled to find the scoresheet in November after averaging a 2.86 goals per game and were shut out three times. With the dads on the road, the Golden Knights outscored their opponents 12-4 and ended several scoring droughts.
Let’s look into some of the stats that has led to Vegas maintaining its number one spot in the West and the number one team in the NHL.
5 – THE DROUGHT IS OVER
Five different scoring droughts were broken during the trip including a 20-game goal drought for Chandler Stephenson who scored the opening goal against Dallas on Saturday. Zach Whitecloud (16GP), Paul Cotter (16GP), Nicolas Roy (11GP) and Pavel Dorofeyev (9GP) all ended significant scoring droughts all in front of their fathers.
5+ - MR. POSITIVE
Nicolas Roy led the Golden Knights in plus/minus rating with a +5, including a +3 performance in St. Louis, matching his career best.
6 – SWEET SIXES
The Golden Knights scored six goals in both St. Louis and Dallas, marking the fourth time in team history that the club has scored six or more goals in back-to-back outings (first since the 2018-19 season).
6 – GOING STREAKING
Jack Eichel continued his offensive push on the trip, matching his career-best goal streak in St. Louis (4GP) and extended his point streak to six games (4-7—11).
17 – THE MORE THE MERRIER
17 of the 19 Vegas skaters that played on the Father’s Trip recorded at least one point, including 11 different goal scorers.
23.1% - POWER SURGE
Vegas had a franchise record eight power play opportunities in St. Louis and an additional five in Dallas. The club scored twice on the power play against the Blues and once versus the Stars for a 23.1% power play percentage during the trip.
30 – JACK BE QUICK
Jack Eichel became the second-fastest Golden Knight to reach 30 points to start the season (27GP). Eichel reached the mark in St. Louis when he posted his third multi-point night in four games.
39 – LT VICTORY
Logan Thompson held the Dallas Stars to one goal on Saturday to secure his 39th win as a Golden Knight. Thompson’s 39 victories match Robin Lehner for the second most wins by a Vegas goalie in franchise history.
40 – FIRST TO FORTY
Vegas is the first club to break the 40-point mark in the NHL this season after its 6-1 victory in Dallas. The Golden Knights have been finding ways to collect points as the club currently holds an eight-game point streak (5-0-3) and leads the league with 43 points.
100 – HUNDRED POINT CLUB
Michael Amadio scored a power-play goal in the final seconds of the second period in St. Louis to record his 100th career point in front of his father. Amadio then missed the game in Dallas to become a dad himself as his daughter, Scottie, was born over the weekend.
100% - KILLING IT!
During the Father’s Trip, Vegas was perfect on the penalty kill. The Golden Knights denied St. Louis and Dallas on a combined seven power plays for a 100% kill rate.
137 – DYNAMIC DUO
Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson combined on the same goal for the 137th time, marking a new franchise record. While playing for the Golden Knights, Karlsson (3-6—9) and Marchessault (3-3—6) lead Vegas in points when playing on the Dad’s Trip.
200 – MARCHY MADNESS
Jonathan Marchessault scored his 200th career goal in St. Louis on Wednesday. Marchessault is only the second active undrafted player to score 200 goals (also Artemi Panarin, NYR).
200 – ON (WHITE)CLOUD 9
Defenseman Zach Whitecloud skated in his 200th career game in front of his dad in St. Louis. Whitecloud became the third player in franchise history to skate the first 200 games of his career all with the Golden Knights (also Keegan Kolesar and Nicolas Hague).
