Would the Vegas Golden Knights forward and his teammates like to not only defeat the Boston Bruins on Monday but also end Boston’s 14-game winning streak at TD Garden?
How about getting a win for coach Bruce Cassidy, who was fired by the Bruins on June 6 after six successful seasons?
“Yeah, I think so,” Stephenson said with a smile. “I’m sure that all the guys on the team want to win for him, help him out in that way. So, I think that yeah, that’s something the guys will be thinking about and he’ll be thinking about, for sure “
It’s just an added wrinkle to a meeting between two of the titans of the Eastern and Western Conferences on Monday (7 pm ET; TVAS, NESN, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The Bruins (20-3-0) and Golden Knights (18-7-1) are two of the top three teams in the NHL, with only the New Jersey Devils ahead in points. Boston (.870) and Vegas (.712) are the best in points percentage in each conference.
It’s East versus West. It’s the Bruins facing their former coach as they look to extend their NHL-record home winning streak to 15 games to begin a season.
This may even be a sneak peek of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. But that’s a long way away. For now, both teams are simply looking at this game and the challenge that awaits.
“We’re learning that every team is going to give us their best,” Boston forward Taylor Hall said last week. “I think we’re showing that no matter who we’re playing it’s really about us and how we play and just how we can dictate games. … We’re going to get teams’ best. They’re going to come hard. I think we have the confidence where if we just play our game that we’re playing [we’re] going to win.”
It is a confidence that has continued to build for a Bruins team that has gone undefeated at home, winning in a multitude of ways while showing a depth that hasn’t always been their calling card. They’ve also won three straight and 10 of their past 11 games.
“They’re firing on all cylinders in every category,” Cassidy said. “Sometimes that’s good for your team, to play that team now. Being out a couple of guys will make it more difficult, but then sometimes your game simplifies when you’re missing key players. And I think our team has responded to good teams “
Vegas will be without defenseman Alex Pietrangelo who has missed the past three games due to a personal issue. It may be without leading scorer Jack Eichel, who left in the third period of a 4-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday with an apparent lower-body injury. Eichel, who has 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 26 games this season, is a game-time decision.
“For us, lately, we’re trying to make it about us, trying to focus on our game,” Stephenson said. “Still trying to figure things out. Still trying to make it seamless so every night we come in, know what to expect. I think that’s something that right now we’re focusing on because it’s not where we want to be.”
The Golden Knights had lost three of their past four games before defeating the Red Wings but still hold the top record in the West. It isn’t too shabby for a team that some thought might struggle without goalie Robin Lehner, who is not expected to play this season because of a hip injury. Instead, Logan Thompson has been a revelation in goal and has a 12-5-0 record with a 2.54 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and two shutouts.
Cassidy compared the rookie to one of his former goalies, Jeremy Swayman, who went 23-14-0 with a .914 save percentage last season under him. This season, with Swayman and Linus Ullmark — who leads the League in GAA (1.93) and save percentage (.936) – the Bruins have allowed 2.13 goals against per game, the fewest in the NHL. They also lead the league in goals at 4.00 per game.
Boston is a dynamic team that has gone through the gauntlet of late, facing the Tampa Bay Lightning twice, and the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche, all in the past two weeks.
And now comes Vegas.
“They’re good games, they’re good tests, because those teams play well,” Bruins forward Brad Marchand said. “I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, on any given night anybody can win. … That’s why I think it’s more important for us not to really worry about who we play and worry about our process, competing hard in practice and taking care of our details.
“That all translates into our game. I think that’s honestly why we’ve been good because we practice hard, and we compete hard and that level of intensity translates into gameplay.”
And they will need it Monday.
“I noticed our record against the Atlantic Division is very good,” Cassidy said. “I seem to know those teams a lot better and can really help with the pre-scout. Like, this is how we did well against them, this is where they exposed us in the past. We’ve got another Atlantic Division one tomorrow “
Vegas is 7-0-0 against Atlantic Division opponents this season.
Cassidy was 245-108-46 with Boston, including a seven-game loss to the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Final in 2019. On Sunday, he got a chance to take in the scene at TD Garden and walked over to the home bench, a place where he spent a great deal of time over the past half dozen years.
“I’ve been in that spot a lot,” he said. “I used to always look at the banners up top. Wanted to hang one. That didn’t happen. But still, great memories.”
And maybe there will be a few more Monday.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Cassidy said. “See where we’re at. And then, whatever happens, we’ll go back to work Wednesday.”
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