LAS VEGAS — As the Golden Knights prepare for a season-high five-game road trip, they’ll do so in a familiar state, missing key pieces due to injury while facing a gauntlet of tough opponents.
The trip opens Wednesday in Toronto, and even without the services of captain winger Mark Stone and defensemen Nic Hague and Ben Hutton – all three on injured reserve – Jack Eichel says getting away might be what the team needs.
“It’s a good chance for us to get on the road and establish our road game,” Eichel said. “We’ve been a good team at home for the most part this season, and we know if we want to get to where we want to be at the end of the season, being a good road team is going to be important.”
The Golden Knights, sitting in first place in the Pacific Division with 24 points, is 3-3-2 away from Vegas, a much different record than their 8-2-0 mark inside T-Mobile Arena.
That said, after losing their first four roadies to start the season, the Knights have won three of four on the highway including two in a row heading into this tour.
After Toronto, the Golden Knights play the second of a back-to-back Thursday in Ottawa. From there, stops in Montreal, Philadelphia and Colorado close things out.
“It’s a great chance for us heading out East,” Eichel added. “It’s always nice getting away with the guys and getting the team camaraderie.
“You never like leaving home, (there’s) something nice about home ice, and home cooking, and being here in Vegas. I’m excited, it should be a good road trip, play some good hockey, and come back with some points.”
Overall, during an 8-3-1 run since Oct. 22, the Golden Knights are one of four teams averaging more than 4.00 goals per game, ranking third with 4.08 per contest. Their power play has had a lot to do with it, too, ranking second in the same span, with a 36.7% conversion rate with a man advantage.
Starting with what might be the toughest of the five teams during the trip could set the tone and spark a run for the Knights.
“We have high expectations for our team,” said Eichel, who is tied for fifth in the NHL with 28 points, including a league second-best 23 assists. “I don’t think anyone’s going to put more pressure on us than we put on ourselves. We expect to win every game we play. We understand that that’s not a realistic goal and expectation, but at the same time, you know you’re going to go through some ups and downs over the course of an 82-game year.”
