Golden Knights Intend On Resting Players In Final Two Games

After clinching the division and locking up home-ice advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Golden Knights have a rare opportunity in the final two games. Unlike last year where every game down the stretch mattered in regards to who VGK would face in the first round, this year, the only thing still up for grabs is possibly an extra home game against Dallas in a potential Western Conference Final.

In other words, the final two games on the schedule for Vegas offer a chance to rest players that may need it before the playoffs. The Golden Knights intend on taking advantage.

We’re going to prepare to win but there’s less at stake and that’s real and guys know that. We stressed the importance of trying to get this done at home last week so we can use this week however we felt was best for us. And we are going to rest some people but still our lineup is good enough to beat anybody. We know we have to be at our best for Sunday, Game 1, so we want to use these two games however that it, whether it’s playing some players or not playing others. -Bruce Cassidy

Jonas Rondbjerg, Alex Holtz, and Cole Schwindt all participated in practice today and are all likely play at least one game of the back-to-back in Calgary and Vancouver. As for who will not be playing, the obvious candidates come first.

The 4 Nations guys, you’re going to see that tomorrow. Those are the guys that got a little bit of a rest but never got the true rest like the rest of them. -Cassidy

Jack Eichel, who has missed the last three games skated with the team and Cassidy deemed him day-to-day. Pietrangelo who has been out with an illness and an injury also skated. Adin Hill was off the ice today while the other two goalies split the on-ice reps.

Striking the right balance between rest and rhythm will be key heading into Sunday’s playoff opener.

The goalie would be the biggest one in between starts is that too much time? It’s harder to replicate traffic and sustained pressure and the pace of the game in front of them that goalies have to go through. -Cassidy

Hill’s last start was on Sunday vs Nashville so he could be looking at a full week in between starts with Game 1 expected on Sunday. Cassidy says that may not ideal for either the goalie or certain players, but it’s not a completely foreign situation for experienced players like the Golden Knights have.

There are breaks in the year and before playoff series sometimes you get extended time between them and those things do exist and many of these guys have been through them. I understand that goalies are the probably the most creatures of habit and routine so you do have to be mindful of that but you want your guy healthy. -Cassidy

The Golden Knights will face a desperate Flames team tomorrow in Calgary as they are in a win-or-go-home situation. VGK’s motivation will obviously not be the same, but Cassidy insists they’ll be ready, no matter what the lineup looks like.