Monday's game against the Winnipeg Jets is bigger than people realize. The Golden Knights are still in the Pacific Division hunt while the Jets are still in the playoff hunt (albeit by the slimmest of margins). Therefore, there's plenty of incentive to win at T-Mobile Arena.
That means superstars like Mitch Marner and Mark Stone must have their best games. Otherwise, you're putting yourself in an unfavorable matchup for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Nobody wants that, specifically if you're playing a team that has had your number (think Edmonton).
Alas, the team had to practice at City National Arena on Monday for the game. I mean, that's what you do in this specific scenario, right? You want to work on the fundamentals and tweak various quirks in your game. If not, what are you even doing as a hockey team?
So, let's dive into the practice notes and see what happened on Monday. How are the Golden Knights feeling heading into their matchup against Winnipeg? Who are the key players to focus on as the Jets matchup looms large? It's time to get our feet cold because practice is in session!
The vibes are vastly different in the Golden Knights practice
Watching the Golden Knights practice on Monday, you can tell how loose they play on the ice. Like, watching Ivan Barbashev mess around with Adin Hill on the ice was a light-hearted moment. As the kids used to say, the vibes were immaculate.
It's no wonder that Vegas is 5-0-1 since John Tortorella arrived on the scene. It shows in their play, where the Golden Knights are attacking the net more and putting their opponents on their heels. That will play a huge role in the team's Stanley Cup run and how far they'll go.
Mitch Marner is playing loose right now
Fresh off breaking the single-season record for most points in his first season as a Golden Knight, Mitch Marner looks to make more noise on Monday. He has 23 goals and 56 assists this season, making him one of the best wingers on the team.
He was all smiles as he was hyping up the Golden Knights and the City National Arena crowd. That will come into play on Monday as the Jets come to town. The stats are even more telling: Marner has nine goals and 23 assists in 25 career games against Winnipeg (+9).
Ivan Barbashev has plenty to prove in Monday's game
Speaking of Barbashev, the Russian winger was another player who was loose in Monday's practice. His vibes were mostly chill as he playfully bugged Adin Hill and laughed alongside his teammates.
That's a great sign for the Golden Knights as they close out the remaining two games. Barbashev has a goal and five assists in April, making him one of the most vital players around. That's especially true with the postseason coming up, when fans hope that he can duplicate his 2022-23 campaign (seven goals and 11 assists).