Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel is seeking improved production as his team faces the Minnesota Wild in Game 5 of their Western Conference First Round series. The best-of-seven series is tied 2-2 heading into Tuesday's game at T-Mobile Arena.
Eichel, a top center for Vegas, has registered one assist and is minus-7 through the first four games. These numbers contrast sharply with his performance during the regular season, where he tallied a career-high 94 points (28 goals, 66 assists) and was plus-32.
Coach Bruce Cassidy stated he has confidence in Eichel and believes the player has experienced misfortune regarding the plus/minus statistic. Cassidy indicated the team is working to assist Eichel offensively.
Late in Game 4, a 4-3 overtime win for Vegas, Cassidy adjusted lines. Eichel skated with center William Karlsson and winger Pavel Dorofeyev. This move aimed to address matchup challenges presented by Minnesota's top line, featuring center Joel Eriksson Ek and wingers Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, who have combined for 15 points in the series.
Eichel acknowledged the two-center setup requires communication but provides unique offensive and defensive capabilities. He noted Karlsson's skating ability as an asset in transition.
The situation represents unfamiliar territory for Eichel compared to his prior playoff experience. In 2023, he recorded 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 22 games during the Golden Knights' Stanley Cup run, finishing plus-14.
He stated his personal focus is on getting to the net, playing his game, and attacking more often when opportunities arise. Eichel recognized the need for better performance, whether creating chances on the cycle, off the rush, or for teammates.
Cassidy understands the scrutiny on Eichel but anticipates a breakthrough. He cited defenseman Shea Theodore, who scored in Game 4 after a period of struggle, as an example of how one play can change momentum for a player.
The Golden Knights' power play unit is viewed as a necessary factor for success. Though historically inconsistent, the unit had a productive regular season (28.3%) and found success in Game 4.
Getting players like Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl, and Mark Stone more involved with the man advantage is seen as important. These top players have combined for three assists in the series, with no goals between them against Minnesota. Minnesota's penalty kill unit finished the regular season with a 72.4% success rate.
In their two wins this series, the Golden Knights have scored four power play goals on seven chances. In their two losses, they were scoreless on four opportunities. The performance of Vegas's man advantage is noteworthy.
