(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

You’ve read the doom, and you’ve heard the gloom, but maybe through 41 games the glass isn’t half empty for the Golden Knights. While Vegas is in the bottom third in wins and goals scored, they are among the first half leaders in other categories.

This season the Golden Knights have had moments of success and 12 overtime losses. Nevertheless, Vegas is on pace for 94 points and has a real chance at another Pacific Division championship banner. Based on the wild-card chase, first place in the division might have a softer path to the conference finals.

After 41 games, here are some offensive statistics the Golden Knights place in the top ten.

VGK’s First Half Top Ten Offensive Rankings

1st Period Goals Scored: 40 (9th)
Backhand Shot Goals: 18 (3rd)
Backhand Shot Percentage: 18.9% (3rd)
Face Off Percentage: 51.8% (8th)
Net Positive Shots Per Game: +4.1 (3rd)
Power Play Percentage: 25.5 (5th)
Shots Per Game: 29.0 (9th)
Snap Shot Percentage: 13.5% (7th)
Win Percentage Up 3 Goals: .538 (10th)
Wins Outshooting Opponent: 14 (4th)
Wrist Shots On Net: 608 (9th)
Wraparound Percentage: 33.3% (2nd)

To no surprise, the Golden Knights power play is one of the most threatening units again under coach Bruce Cassidy. This is the third time his club has had a top ten power play unit by the midway of the point of the season. Power play specialists Pavel Dorofeyev and Tomas Hertl have combined for 18 PPGs through the first 41 games. Many nights, opponents are forced to pick their poison while trying to prevent a pretty Jack Eichel assist.

Another constant is Vegas’ shot volume under Cassidy. Currently, the Golden Knights are in the top ten with 29 shots per game. That’s the fourth time VGK has been among the league’s highest in shots per game since 2022-23.

Interestingly enough to note, Vegas is highly accurate in certain types of shots. For example, the club is third in backhand shot percentage and seventh in snap shot success. Mr. Backhand, Reilly Smith added to VGK’s total in last night’s overtime victory in Winnipeg. Unfortunately, the NHL doesn’t consider Mark Stone’s jam shot as a full wraparound. So as of right now, the Captain is without a wraparound attempt this season. However, Mitch Marner was credited with a successful video game-like wraparound goal in late November.

VGK’s First Half Top Ten Defensive Rankings

Fewest Penalties Taken: 124 (2nd)
Fewest Penalty Minutes: 298 (3rd)
Fewest 3rd Period Goals Allowed: 34 (3rd)
Fewest Shots Allowed Per Gm: 24.9 (2nd)
Net Positive Penalties: +20 (6th)
Penalty Kill Percentage: 81.8% (8th)

Through 41 games, Vegas has successfully managed to hold opponents to the second-lowest amount of shots taken per game. It’s the lowest average allowed in the first half in Golden Knights team history.

Nobody should be shocked that Vegas is one of the least penalized teams in the NHL. It’s their third time in the last four seasons to have committed the first or second least amount of penalties by Game #41. Just like years past, when Vegas serves time for an infraction, Cassidy simply activates his top ten penalty kill unit.

Overall, in the Cassidy era, at the halfway point of the season, Vegas is accustomed to being in the top ten in almost every important statistic. Goals allowed, goals scored, regulation victories, even-strength goals, etc. It’s a been challenging first half for the Golden Knights but despite the inconsistencies, they enter today as the 1st place team in the Pacific Division.