Date: November 17th, 2024
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV

 

Tonight, the Vegas Golden Knights take on the Washington Capitals, promising an exciting matchup between two teams with very similar records this season. The Golden Knights have been dominant to start the year posting an 11-5-1 record, while the Capitals have shown a strong start coming into this season with some momentum and a 11-4-1 record to prove their success.

 

Vegas Golden Knights: Staying Golden

The Golden Knights enter the game with a 11-5-1 record, sitting atop the Pacific Division. Known for their depth and consistency, Vegas has excelled at both ends of the ice this season. Their balanced scoring attack, led by Jack Eichel and their elite defense anchored by veterans Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore, have made them a formidable opponent in the western conference yet again. Goaltending has been a weak point for Vegas, with Adin Hill expected to start tonight he only comes into this game with a 3.16 GAA and .886 SV% he will be looking to improve these numbers as the season progresses. Vegas will look to rally a few to build confidence in their goaltender tonight. The Golden Knights thrive on disciplined play limiting the amount of time they’ve had to kill penalties this season only amounting 99 penalty minutes, the least in the NHL. When looking at all the components and pieces to this Vegas team you cant help but picture them back in a contending position for the cup this year.

 

Washington Capitals: Powering Forward with Ovechkin at the Helm

The Capitals (11-4-1) have weathered early-season challenges, and put themselves 3rd place in the metropolitan division. This team has truly rallied behind all star captain Alex Ovechkin, who continues to climb the NHL’s all-time scoring charts (863 goals). Younger players like Connor McMichael, Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas have stepped up, providing crucial depth, energy and creative playmaking to complement the veteran goal scorers like Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson, and John Carlson. These young players have rejuvenated a Capitals team most NHL fans were losing faith in. Both goaltenders Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson have been stellar for the Capitals providing the Washington defence with some much needed confidence, which has been critical in recent wins, including the recent 5-2 commanding victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night. Tonight, the Capitals will look to be sharp again on this road trip against Vegas’s deep offense.

 

Logan Thompson: The Return to Sin City

Goaltender Logan Thompson is set to take the ice tonight against his former team. Now the starting goaltender for the Washington Capitals, Thompson will make his debut against the organization where he spent the first four seasons of his NHL career. Thompson was a key part of the Golden Knights, achieving a 56-32-11 record with a .912 save percentage and four shutouts. However, the Golden Knights opted to stick with Adin Hill after his stellar performance during their 2023 Stanley Cup run, leading Thompson to request a trade for a clearer path to a starting role. This past summer, he was traded to Washington, where he has embraced the opportunity to establish himself as the Capitals’ primary netminder. In interviews, Thompson expressed mixed feelings about facing Vegas, reflecting on fond memories but acknowledging the extra motivation to perform well against his former team. “You’re always going to be a little extra motivated to play your former team,” he said, highlighting his excitement for the new chapter with Washington. This matchup will test for Thompson fans on both sides will watch closely to see if he can deliver a standout performance against the team that shaped his NHL journey.

 

Aliaksei Protas: Belarusian Talent Making Waves in Washington

Aliaksei Protas is continuing to make an impact for the Washington Capitals this season. The 23-year-old forward, who was drafted 91st overall by the Capitals in 2019, has emerged as one of their top players, contributing significantly to the team’s offensive efforts. So far this season, Protas has accumulated 15 points. His solid play has him up on the top line cantered by Dylan Strome and accompanied by Alex Ovechkin on the opposite wing. Protas has helped the Capitals remain competitive in the tough Eastern Conference. Protas has been so impressive that the Capitals rewarded his progress by signing him to a five-year, $16.875 million contract extension earlier this year. The contract, which begins in 2024-2025, reflects the team’s belief that Protas will continue to grow into an essential player for years to come. The Belarus native has shown his potential at both the NHL and AHL levels, including playing a key role in the Hershey Bears’ Calder Cup victory last season. With his strong two-way game and playmaking abilities, Protas is expected to be a central figure for the Capitals in the coming seasons and maybe even the whole NHL? His performance this year continues to prove that he is on the rise in Washington’s lineup.

 

Key Matchups to Watch

• Eichel vs. Strome: The battle between two highly skilled centers will be pivotal. Eichel’s ability to control play for Vegas and Strome’s creativity for Washington could dictate the play tonight on the ice and drive a team’s success.
• Special Teams: Vegas’s penalty kill has been among the league’s best (killing 80.6%), while Washington’s power play has struggled (converting at 13.7%). The Capitals must capitalize on any man-advantage opportunities.
• Ovechkin vs. Vegas Defense: Ovechkin’s ability to find shooting lanes will test the Golden Knights structured defence, some teams will cheat to cover Ovechkin it will be interesting to see how Vegas covers him tonight in their own zone, his presence on the power play remains a game-changer.

 

Keys to Victory

Vegas Golden Knights:

• Leverage depth scoring to pressure Washington’s defense.

 

• Maintain dominance in the neutral zone to disrupt the Capitals’ transition game.

 

• Keep the puck moving north and south.

 

Washington Capitals:

• Rely on goaltending to counter Vegas’s offensive weapons, they have many deadly threats up front.

 

• Utilize physicality to slow down Vegas’s speed and creativity when they’re gaining the blue line.

 

• Dictate the pace and capitalize on slowing the game down in the neutral zone. Eyes open for coughed up pucks.

 

Both Teams:

• Limit the opponents offensive opportunities. Tonights matchup features the 1st and 2nd highest scoring teams in the NHL. (Vegas – 51 goals for / Washington – 47 goals for)

 

This matchup brings together a Vegas team that is firing on all cylinders and a Capitals squad proving they can compete with the league’s elite. With star power on both sides, tonight’s game promises to be a showcase of skill, strategy, and intensity between two cross conference teams.

 

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