(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
Last night, the Golden Knights hosted their 11th Eastern Conference opponent at T-Mobile Arena. In the remaining 40 games this season for the Golden Knights, half will be played at home. To break it down even further, 15 home contests will be conference and divisional matchups.
VGK’s 2nd Half Home Schedule
- 20 Games Remaining
- 15 Games vs. Western Conference teams
- 8 Games vs. Pacific Division teams
- 5 Games vs. Eastern Conference teams
- 1 Back-to-Back situation
Now with the second half underway, overtime points aren’t something VGK can continue to hand out like Oprah. With teams like Anaheim, San Jose, and Seattle still in the mix, even one point will greatly benefit teams fighting for the 3rd place position in the Pacific Division and the two Western Conference wild card spots. Taking care of those opponents at home will make it more difficult to climb the standings and threaten VGK’s position in the division.
Vegas’s second half road schedule presents some challenges and opportunities to separate themselves from other clubs jockeying for postseason positions. Next week, the Golden Knights travel to San Jose and Los Angeles. Two clean wins for Vegas could put some distance between them and the two Pacific postseason hopefuls. On the flip side, after the Olympic break, the Golden Knights will voyage on a coast-to-coast five-game road trip. They’ll begin in LA, and then plane hop from DC, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Detroit. Sure, there isn’t a team like the Avalanche on that road trip, but all five clubs are feverishly fighting for a spot in the postseason.
VGK’s 2nd Half Road Schedule
- 20 Games Remaining
- 12 Games vs. Western Conference teams
- 7 Games vs. Pacific Division teams
- 8 Games vs. Eastern Conference teams
- 3 Back-to-Back situations
A major concern with the Golden Knights’ second half road schedule is the number of back-to-backs. Vegas will host only one back-to-back scenario at home, whereas they will have to deal with three on the road. Later this month, the Golden Knights will face the Bruins in Boston on one night and then travel to Toronto to battle the Maple Leafs the next evening. On January 31st, Vegas will wrap up a two-game set at home against Seattle, immediately followed by a game in Anaheim the following night. Sure, the first game will be played at T-Mobile Arena, but the second will be in Anaheim at the Honda Center 23.5 hours later.
Vegas’ last back-to-back will occur in early March. Vegas will wrap up a five-game road trip with back-to-backs in Buffalo and Detroit. Difficult but not impossible.
VGK’s 2nd Half Point Breakdown
- 40 Games Remaining (80 Points)
- 20 Home Games (40 Points)
- 20 Away Games (40 Points)
- 27 Games vs. Western Conference teams (54 Points)
- 15 Games vs. Pacific Division teams (30 Points)
- 12 Games vs. Eastern Conference teams (24 Points)
It’s likely that the Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers will battle down the stretch for the Pacific Division crown. The Oilers have a slight leg up since they will not be forced to travel east at all in the second half of the season. Like Vegas, Edmonton has been inconsistent as well; however, they will not have to play a minute in the Eastern Time zone in their final 38 games.
We hear it every season, and we’ll undoubtedly hear it again the year. Vegas just needs to take care of their end and not worry about other team’s schedules. If they can take advantage of their home games it should be another postseason berth for the 31st franchise.
