3 Takeaways From Golden Knights’ 4-1 Win Over Hurricanes

They are clicking in transition, with Eichel’s playmaking setting the tone. But the team’s depth in scoring means they’re not reliant on just one line—a key advantage as the season progresses.

2. The Goaltending Woes May Have Been Overstated

When starting goaltender Adin Hill exited (after four saves) with a lower-body injury at 9:54 of the first period, the alarm bells sounded. However, Schmid entered and calmly stopped 22 of 23 shots, improving his record to 4-0-0 and helping Vegas hold the Hurricanes to a single goal.

“It’s hard and easy at the same time [to come into the game cold],” Schmid said via NHL.com. “You just jump in there. You don’t really overthink it too much, like you might do when you’re starting. You just kind of play and see how it goes.”

Schmid’s performance suggests that the perception of a vulnerable goaltending tandem may have been exaggerated, at least for now. While Hill’s injury is a concern, the Golden Knights showed they have the depth and composure in net to absorb that loss and still execute at a high level.

The hosts held a high-powered ‘Canes offense to one goal while changing goalies mid-game speaks to both the team’s overall defense and Schmid’s poise. The young netminder now has had two consecutive strong outings and continues to prove his stellar preseason performances were no fluke.

3. The Injuries Continue, But the Golden Knights Manage For Now

Heading into the game, the Golden Knights were without captain Mark Stone, who was placed on injured reserve with a wrist injury on Monday and is considered week-to-week. On top of that, the club is already missing defenseman Noah Hanifin and center Brett Howden.

Yet despite the mounting absences, the Golden Knights demonstrated resilience after Hill left the game. They shuffled lines, leaned on depth players, and still produced at both ends of the ice. Stone’s absence means someone else must step up. The squad responded with balanced scoring and a tight defensive outing.

The willingness of the supporting cast to fill the void and maintain structure suggests that the Pacific Division leaders may be better positioned than most to weather this injury stretch. While the losses will inevitably matter over the long season, Monday’s performance reemphasizes just how well-balanced and deep the Golden Knights’ roster is.

What’s Next For the Golden Knights?

With the win, the Golden Knights stand atop the NHL with 12 points. They get a four-day break as they travel east to Florida, where they will face the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning in a back-to-back set beginning on Saturday.