Christmas Day is just around the corner, but the Vegas Golden Knights have a few grievances to air out.

On Tuesday, the Golden Knights hope to reverse their recent fortunes when they return to Las Vegas to take on the San Jose Sharks.

Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, NV

Date: Tuesday, December 23

How To Watch: ESPN+, SCRIPPS

The season has taken a turn for the worse in recent days, with the Golden Knights coming up empty in a quick weekend trip against the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers. The absences of Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore have only compounded problems, and Dylan Coghlan has now been called up for reinforcements. Now, the Golden Knights are relying on a return home to get some of the momentum back.

Here is how they can manage that against their most hated rival.

The one thing that doomed the Golden Knights in their recent games was their inability to get things going early.

In both of their games in Alberta, the Golden Knights found themselves in four-goal deficits to both Calgary and Edmonton before they made a push late. It is simply too much to ask any team in the NHL to consistently chase games, especially when they reach blowout territory. Bruce Cassidy is going to demand his team to come out of the gates swinging in order to stay competitive.

Morning skate revealed that the Golden Knights are giving Alexander Holtz another look, putting him on a line with two of the team’s hottest forwards in Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev.

The season has been a struggle for the 23-year-old winger so far, going pointless in eight games. However, with the team in desperate need for offense, they are hoping that Holtz can finally find his footing and make a positive impact. This must Holtz’s time to carve out a spot in Vegas, or the team will look elsewhere next time they are looking for depth.

While the Sharks have been better than in recent years, the Golden Knights have still been their kryptonite.

Vegas has come out on top in each of their last nine games, including both of their matchups this season. Despite this, the Sharks remain in striking distance of a playoff spot, and nothing would thrill them more than placing a dent in the ambitions of their nemesis. With the Pacific in a state of flux this season, this stands as an excellent opportunity for the Golden Knights to remind the hockey world where they stand in the NHL’s hierarchy.