The Vegas Golden Knights have gotten off to a great start in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, winning both games on the road against the Dallas Stars, taking a 2-0 series lead.
The Golden Knights have now won all five games against the Stars between the regular season and the playoffs this year, and will look to complete the sweep in Games 3 and 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Here are three standout stats through the opening two games of the postseason, and how they could end up being the biggest difference makers throughout the rest of the series.
112 Hits for the Golden Knights
The Golden Knights’ physical dominance has been a major factor separating these two teams. They out-hit the Stars 98-63 in their three regular season matchups and logged nearly 600 more hits than them throughout all 82 games (2,019-1,458). That advantage has carried over into the postseason, as the Golden Knights have out-hit the Stars 112-88 in the opening two games of the series.
A lot of their edge has come from the physical presence of the Golden Knights’ defensive core. They have four defensemen who are taller than 6-foot-3, and they are also the heaviest amongst playoff teams with an average weight of 214.6 pounds. This size advantage translates beyond hitting, with their reach giving them better ways to defend in the defensive zone with the structure that Bruce Cassidy has implemented over the past few seasons.
However, it’s been a collective checking effort going beyond the Golden Knights’ big-bodied defensemen. Keegan Kolesar (13), William Carrier (11), Nic Roy (10), and Ivan Barbashev (10) lead the team and are all in double digits through two games, while Brett Howden (nine), Tomas Hertl (eight), Jack Eichel (seven), and Jonathan Marchessault (seven) aren’t far behind them.
There’s no tangible way to evaluate how it’s impacted the on-ice play, but the Stars have looked visibly worn down by the Golden Knights’ checking. This team is built for playoff hockey, and having everyone commit to the physical game will give them a chance to beat any opponent they face.
66.7% Power Play Percentage
While the Stars have managed to stay disciplined throughout the first two games of the series, the Golden Knights have taken advantage of the few man-advantages they’ve earned, converting on two of their three opportunities. It’s hard to read too much into the high percentage…
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