Stat Pack: Colorado Looks to Snap Knights' Start

A game preview of tonight's big tilt at T-Mobile

Photo of Rantanen Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

“Why are there two game previews?” That’s what you’re asking as this appears in your email. Well, it’s two-fold: that’s how big tonight’s game is AND Dater and I don’t talk ahead of time… we’re good like that.

Anyway, you get two very different previews. Deal with it! Or enjoy… whichever.

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The most important game of the young season is here. The 10th contest of the campaign pits the defending Stanley Cup Champion* Vegas Golden Knights and the rightful and virtuous champs from two years ago, the Colorado Avalanche.

These two teams have been in-step with one another for the last three years. The game at Lake Tahoe was the first major chapter in a new rivalry in the Western Conference. That was the game in which Bo Byram was hit from behind by an unpunished Keegan Kolesar that sent Byram down the path of head injuries that plagued him for a year. Colorado won the game, 3-2, in front of a national audience that was able to stick around until the early hours of the morning when the contest resumed after less-than-ideal ice conditions (Thanks, SUN!).

It was during that 2021 shortened season that the two teams played in the same division as the league rearranged the makeup of the teams due to Covid. The Avs took the Presidents’ Trophy that season in the last game of the year, edging Vegas by regulation points percentage as both teams had 82 points. The Golden Knights would get the last laugh in the postseason as Colorado blew a 2-0 lead in the second round with Vegas taking the series in six games.

The two each won the Stanley Cup in the ensuing seasons. 

Colorado’s defense of the Cup a year ago was riddled with injuries and hardships, but eventually culminated in a divisional title on the final day of the season. Vegas doesn’t seem to be dealing with similar hardships early this year as their captain miraculously recovered from injury in time for their run to the Cup last spring, while the Avs captain — who is actually injured — hasn’t played in a game since lifting the Cup in late June 2022.

At 10-0-1, the Golden Knights are off to the best start in league history for a defending Stanley Cup Champion. At 7-2-0, Colorado comes into this one trying to hand Vegas their first regulation loss of the year and improve on their 7-5-0 all-time mark on the Strip.