Vegas has had its own up-and-down week under first-year head coach Ryan Craig. The opener was a clean 5-2 win over Chicago. Carter Hart stopped 24 of 26, Jack Eichel picked up his 700th career point, and 19-year-old Trevor Connelly scored in his NHL debut. Craig gave credit to all 3 defensive pairs that night. Two nights later Anaheim led 4-0 through 2 periods at T-Mobile Arena before Vegas scored 3 in the third and ran out of time.
Both clubs have a slow-start problem. Vegas fell behind by 4 at home against a Ducks team missing Troy Terry and 2 defensemen. Vancouver fell behind by 4 after 1 period against Edmonton. Both came back late, and neither comeback finished the job. The team that plays a clean first 20 minutes on Sunday probably decides this, and Vegas looks better set up to do it. The Golden Knights will have rested legs and a defensive structure that held up well in the opener. Vancouver is giving up goals in bunches and playing its second game in 2 nights.
The Canucks' injured list hurts their depth more than their stars. Filip Chytil and Akil Thomas are both out at center, and Jack Thompson is out on the blue line. On a back-to-back, that means the bottom of the lineup takes more minutes on the second night. Demko is the absence that matters most, because whoever starts Saturday against Calgary probably doesn't start Sunday. Keep an eye on that, and on how many minutes Vancouver's top players log against the Flames.
For Vegas, the questions are whether Hart looks like the opening-night version and whether Eichel and Mark Stone can push the pace against a defense that has given up 14 goals in 2 games. Connelly is the fun subplot: a teenager 2 games into his career, about to play a team that has spent the week chasing games. If Vegas avoids digging another 4-goal hole, this sets up well for the visitors. If not, Rogers Arena has already watched a 16-goal game this week.