Despite the traditional January struggles, the Vegas Golden Knights have laid the groundwork for renewed hope.

On Saturday, they hope for both more and less of the same in the last couple of games when they face the St. Louis Blues.

Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, NV

Date: Saturday, January 10

How To Watch: ESPN+, SCRIPPS

Last time these two faced off in St. Louis, the Blues embarrassed the Golden Knights with a 4-3 loss on the back a goal in the dying minutes of regulation. However, unlike last time, Jack Eichel is now fully re-integrated in the lineup, and the team may be galvanized from the pending returns of Adin Hill and Shea Theodore. The postseason is still very much in play despite weathering a storm of injuries, so the Golden Knights have to feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Here is how the Golden Knights can ride that positive energy into a third straight win.

While no one will complain about the end results of the last two games, the process for both was certainly an arduous one.

Against the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets, the Golden Knights started out down 2-0 before clawing back to win both games. The return of the resilience factor the team had shown in seasons past is nice, but relying on it leaves the team with precious little margin for error. They can only benefit from starting out strong and being able to conserve that energy when they go on the road for the second leg of this weekend back-to-back.

Part of the Golden Knights finally breaking out of their funk is on the back of some dynamic performances on special teams.

The Golden Knights were able to get comebacks working in large part due to the power play, with Tomas Hertl scoring the overtime winner and Mark Stone with power play goals in back-to-back games. It has lead to Vegas being one of only two teams (Chicago Blackhawks) who are top-ten in the NHL on the power play and penalty kill (Golden Knights are fifth and seventh in the categories, respectively.) Taking advantage of mistakes while limiting the damage from their own is paramount to success, and the Golden Knights will hope that continues.

Stone has not been the only Golden Knight to get on a roll in recent games.

Reilly Smith found new life against Columbus on Mitch Marner’s line, and he has regained some offensive touch with three goals in the last two games. Brett Howden also has goals in back-to-back contests to help get the Golden Knights going on offense. The depth scoring must continue in order for the Golden Knights to sustain success, so hopefully they and others can produce once again.