NHL.com's fantasy staff continues to cover the latest trends and storylines in the League through the lens of NHL EDGE puck and player tracker stats. Today, we take a look at the reasons the Vegas Golden Knights appear primed for another long Stanley Cup Playoff run.
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The Vegas Golden Knights, who were quieter than usual around the NHL Trade Deadline, remain one of the top Stanley Cup contenders this season with excellent underlying metrics.
The Golden Knights, who won the Stanley Cup in 2023, came out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break tied with the Edmonton Oilers (72 points each as of Feb. 20) for the Pacific Division lead and only made one notable move to reacquire wing Reilly Smith. But, while Edmonton has struggled in its first 10 games back (3-7-0), Vegas (6-2-1 since break) has reminded the hockey world that it's still one of the League's elite teams without any glaring roster flaws.
Here are four advanced stats categories that suggest the Golden Knights are equipped for another deep postseason run.
1. Shot location versatility
Vegas is the only NHL team to rank in the top 10 of the following shot/goal by location categories: the Golden Knights lead the NHL in midrange shots on goal (600) and midrange goals (78) and also rank highly in high-danger goals (103; eighth) and high-danger shots on goal (501; 10th). They also rank seventh in shot attempts percentage at 5-on-5 (51.5), a strong indicator a team’s chances of making a deep Stanley Cup Playoff run.
Vegas’ leading goal scorer, center Tomas Hertl (27 total; tied for 21st in NHL), is tied for fifth in the League in high-danger shots on goal (87) and tied for seventh in high-danger goals (19). Among the League’s midrange goal leaders are wing Pavel Dorofeyev (11; 97th percentile) and center Jack Eichel (10; 94th percentile). Dorofeyev has been one of the breakout players of the season with 26 goals (second on team behind Hertl), including a team-leading four game-winning goals.
In the Golden Knights’ 4-0 road win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, Eichel (79 points in 64 games) passed teammate William Karlsson (78 points in 2017-18) for the most points in a single season by a Vegas player. Eichel has a robust advanced stats profile that supports his status as one of the game’s upper-echelon players:
• 20-plus mph speed bursts: 291 (99th percentile)
• Total skating distance: 218.27 miles (98th percentile)
• Top skating speed: 23.50 mph (96th percentile)
• Top shot speed: 94.11 mph (95th percentile)
• Average shot speed: 64.95 mph (94th percentile)
2. Power-play success
The Golden Knights have the second best power-play percentage in the NHL this season (29.0 percent; behind Winnipeg Jets’ 31.5) and have scored eight power-play goals in 13 games since the start of February. Vegas has the League’s best road power-play percentage (31.5) and offensive zone time percentage on the power play (62.9 percent).
In terms of power-play goals, Hertl (12) and Dorofeyev (11) have combined for 23 this season; the only teammates in the League to combine for more are Tampa Bay Lightning forwards Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point (27 combined), Edmonton Oilers forwards Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid (24 combined) and Detroit Red Wings forwards Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat (24 combined). Eichel has 30 power-play points (tied for fifth in the NHL), the most in a single season in Golden Knights history.
3. Third-period domination
In terms of third-period goal differential this season, the Golden Knights (plus-34) rank second behind the Washington Capitals (plus-43). Vegas also ranks first and tied for first, respectively, in winning percentage (.318) and wins (seven) when trailing entering the third period. Their 18 comeback wins this season are tied for third in the League.
As good as the Golden Knights are at occupying space in front of their opponent’s net, they are just as good at defending that area in their own end. Vegas has allowed the second fewest high-danger shots on goal (425) and is tied for the sixth fewest high-danger goals allowed (83). This is especially true in the third period where the Golden Knights have allowed only 19 high-danger goals; only the Los Angeles Kings (16) have allowed fewer. Vegas' high-danger save percentage in the third period also ranks third best (.861) behind the Kings (.887) and Minnesota Wild (.862).
Goalie Adin Hill, who stopped all 27 shots faced against Columbus on Thursday for his 11th NHL shutout (six have come with Vegas), is 5-1-0 with a .940 save percentage and two shutouts over his past six starts. Hill burst onto the scene during the Golden Knights’ 2023 Stanley Cup run, leading the NHL in save percentage (.932) that postseason and playing every minute of their five-game series win against the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final. Per NHL EDGE stats, Hill ranked second in high-danger save percentage (.893) that postseason.
4. Scoring by defensemen
Golden Knights defensemen have combined for 151 points (32 goals, 119 assists) this season to rank fifth in the NHL. Shea Theodore (48), Noah Hanifin (32) and Alex Pietrangelo (27) make Vegas one of only three teams (others: Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins) with a trio of defensemen having more than 25 points this season. Theodore, who has missed all nine of Vegas’ games since the 4 Nations Face-Off after sustaining an upper-body injury in the tournament opener, is week to week and could return for the playoffs.
Vegas defensemen also rank highly in both midrange shots on goal (124; fourth) and midrange goals (14; tied for sixth); Hanifin is tied for seventh at his position in midrange goals (six). Hanifin, like Hertl, is a potential difference-maker in the playoffs who was acquired prior to last year’s trade deadline; neither player was a part of the 2023 championship run.
The Golden Knights play with structure, allowing their defensemen to jump into the play and create offense. At even strength, their defensemen rank fourth in total skating distance (993.42 miles) and ninth in offensive zone time percentage (42.9 percent). With a deep defense, potent forward group and stability in net (Hill signed six-year contract Friday), Vegas could have the most complete team, if healthy, this postseason.
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