Getting a five-game break 30 games into the season is a luxury that doesn’t occur every season. For Vegas, it couldn’t come at a better time. The Golden Knights faced their daunting November schedule and more than survived. Currently, they’re riding a three-game win streak and seven out of their last nine games.
2024-25 5+ Days Between Games
- 12/07-12/11: 5 Days Between Games
- 02/09-2/21: 11 Days Between Games
Or course there are many more benefits to an extended break in early December. Worrywarts get concerned that a near week-long break could hinder Vegas’ strong stretch. It’s a natural occurrence with any team. This is something the Golden Knights will have to balance in early February as well.
Under Bruce Cassidy, the Golden Knights have had five or more days between games two other times. Both came in the first week of February. In 2023-24, Vegas sluggishly went 4-8-1 after their lengthy bye week. Before the break, Vegas had won five of their last seven contests. Last season’s club couldn’t get back on a steady track and finished 8th in the Western Conference.
The 2023 Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights also dealt with a week-long pause, and we know how their season turned out. After their break, the champs won five straight games and went 7-1-2 in 10 games. If Vegas continues to score from all sources, expect the same type of result starting on December 12th in Winnipeg.
Winnipeg’s got a good forward group, big group. Edmonton’s the same. Minnesota we haven’t seen but they’re going really well. -Bruce Cassidy
When looking back to the pre-Cassidy era, the Golden Knights notoriously stumbled out of extended breaks. Three separate times Vegas failed to come out strong after significant time off the ice, even losing 10 times in a 14-game stretch. As we know, that team sadly missed the postseason. However, it did motivate the 2023 champions.
VGK With 4+ Days Between Games
2017-18: 2-0-1
2018-19: 1-2-0
2019-20: 2-0-0
2020-21: 3-0-0
2021-22: 3-4-0
2022-23: 3-0-0
2023-24: 2-1-0
2024-24: 1-0-0
Total: 17-7-1
Vegas has a much longer period of days in between games in mid-February when the entire league shuts down for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Using evidence solely from the Cassidy era, the Golden Knights should come out of the break rested, re-energized, and ready to attack their opponents. They’ll immediately be tested as three grueling games in Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Minnesota are up next.
