Golden Knights hope strong 1st half paves way to spot in playoffs

PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- The Vegas Golden Knights find themselves in tight races atop the Pacific Division and the Western Conference.

They lead the Seattle Kraken and the Los Angeles Kings by two points for first place in the Pacific, and they trail the Winnipeg Jets and the Dallas Stars by one point for the lead in the West.
General manager Kelly McCrimmon isn't focused on that, though.
"Just worry about yourself," McCrimmon said Monday while scouting the 2023 USA Hockey BioSteel All-American Game in suburban Detroit. "I think that's a big thing."
The Golden Knights finished the first half 27-12-2. They are now 28-15-2 after going 1-3-0 in their past four games, all at home.
But they are on track to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after missing them last season for the first time since they joined the NHL as an expansion team in 2017-18.
It'll be up to them finish the job, starting against the Detroit Red Wings at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, ATTSN-RM, BSDET, ESPN+, SN NOW).
"We had 27 wins in the first half," McCrimmon said. "I don't know if we'll be able to duplicate that in the second half, but what would there be, probably 21, 22, 23 teams that are trying to be playoff teams?

"That's our goal, and you can't get ahead of yourself, because it's a hard league to win in, right? Everybody's trying to win.
"I'm not looking at the other teams in our division or conference as much as I'm looking at our own. If we hold up our end of the bargain, there will be a spot there for us."
The Golden Knights got off to a 13-2-0 start. At that point, they had the best record in the NHL.
It was unsustainable, but it reinvigorated Vegas.
After struggling with injuries, going 43-31-8 and finishing three points behind the Nashville Predators for the second wild card in the West last season, the Golden Knights had good health, a new coach in Bruce Cassidy and points in the bank.
"When you come off a year like we had last year, that start really helps you turn the page," McCrimmon said.
The Golden Knights have run into challenges since.
Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo missed nine games for personal reasons. Center Jack Eichel (13), forward Jonathan Marchessault (six) and defenseman Alec Martinez (four) each missed games due to injuries.
Defenseman Shea Theodore (16) and Zach Whitecloud (15) remain out with injuries, and forward Mark Stone, the captain, has missed the past two games and is week to week.
But there are several positive storylines.
Cassidy will coach the Pacific Division at the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game at FLA LIVE Arena in Sunrise, Florida, on Feb. 4 (3 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, CBC, SN, TVAS).
An important part of his impact has been on special teams. Vegas ranked 25th on the power play (18.4 percent) and 21st on the penalty kill (77.4 percent) last season. This season, Vegas ranks eighth on the power play (24.8 percent) and 16th on the penalty kill (79.1).
"I think he's highly intelligent as a coach," McCrimmon said. "I think that he pushes guys hard and holds players accountable. Regardless of who you are or what your role is on the team, I think he takes guys to a level that they should be at, and those are the things that good coaches do. He's just a real solid coach, and he's done a good job with our team."
The goaltending, the biggest question mark entering the season, has been solid. Logan Thompson is 18-12-1 with a 2.72 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage and two shutouts. Adin Hill is 10-3-1 with a 2.61 GAA and .909 save percentage.

Thompson will represent the Golden Knights at the All-Star Game and should be a candidate for the Calder Trophy, which goes to the NHL rookie of the year. He has paid his dues, going undrafted and rising from junior to college to the ECHL to the American Hockey League.
"He's seized the moment," McCrimmon said. "He's now 25 years old, but he, for me, has always been in a position where he's been a No. 1, always been in a position where he's developing and getting better, and now his time has come as an NHL player."
Eichel has looked like himself again when healthy, after going from the Buffalo Sabres to the Golden Knights in a trade Sept. 4, 2021; having neck surgery Nov. 12, 2021; and returning Feb. 16. He has 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 32 games this season and gives Vegas a bona fide No. 1 center.
"It's been great to get him back into our lineup," McCrimmon said. "He can change a game with one shift, right? He's got that kind of skating ability and skill."
The Golden Knights have weathered injuries with their depth. That's another positive. But McCrimmon pointed to two things to watch: their home record and their health. At 13-12-0 at T-Mobile Arena, they're 22nd in the NHL at home in terms of point percentage (.520).
"We need to be a little better at home than we've been," McCrimmon said. "That's something we want to establish in the second half.
"[It's] all about the health for me, just that ability to have access to your best players. It gives you the depth you need at every position. So, that'll be our focus as we go into the second half of the year."