The Vegas Golden Knights returned to practice Friday at City National Arena in Las Vegas, though the team was not fully reunited as several players and head coach Bruce Cassidy remained overseas competing in the Winter Olympics. Before hitting the ice, the players gathered upstairs in the arena to watch the final moments of Team Canada’s semifinal matchup, a game where defenseman Shea Theodore scored late to tie the contest and drew pride from his teammates.
Teammates Rally Behind Theodore’s Late Goal for Team Canada
Shea Theodore’s late-game goal electrified the Golden Knights locker room, with much of the team closely invested in the international contest. Forward Keegan Kolesar remarked on the moment, saying,
“Yeah, I watched, uh, walked in the rink and it was 2-0,”
then added,
“I was like, we’re fine, not a worry in the world, uh, you know, just gotta get Shea on the ice more, and look what happens.”
The crowd’s enthusiasm reflected the predominant Canadian representation among the players currently in Las Vegas, with only one American present at practice.
Defenseman Kaedan Korczak described the atmosphere, stating, “Yeah, we were all upstairs,” and remarked,
“I was so glued to the TV…I think we all were, especially when they scored there late to tie it up, and we were all just so happy for them.”
The close interest in the game underscored the strong connection between the Golden Knights’ roster and their national teams.
Focus Shifts Toward NHL Season’s Final Stretch
With Team Canada and Team USA scheduled to face off for the Olympic gold medal on Sunday, international attention continues, yet back in Las Vegas, the Golden Knights are already preparing for the closing phase of the NHL regular season. The team has 25 games remaining, including an upcoming five-game road trip that begins Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. This period represents a critical stretch as the Western Conference playoff race tightens and every point matters.
Challenges of Returning to Rhythm After Olympic Break
Assistant coach John Stevens emphasized the difficulties the team faces after nearly two weeks off from regular competition.
“When you’ve been off for 10 days, they have to work on everything,”
he said.
“We have to get them acclimated again…get the execution back.”
The Golden Knights drew from experience last season, when a similar break during the Four Nations tournament posed comparable challenges.
Stevens added,
“We have a little bit of a template there,”
pointing to how the team’s strong play after that hiatus offers a model to follow. The focus now is on ramping up the players present at the arena while preparing for the return of those competing internationally.
Managing Olympians’ Return Amid Condensed Schedule
The Golden Knights expect the Olympians, including Theodore, to rejoin the lineup immediately upon their return. Managing their workload will be essential as the team navigates a compressed schedule with limited recovery time.
John Stevens commented on this delicate balance:
“It’s just a matter of getting them back to where they were,”
before adding,
“Just let’s get back to where we were.”
This steady reintegration will be crucial to maintaining competitive consistency as the team pushes toward the playoffs.
Intense Western Conference Battle Drives Urgency
With playoff positioning becoming increasingly competitive in the Western Conference, the Golden Knights must minimize errors and regain full momentum quickly. The international spotlight on the Olympics will continue briefly, but Las Vegas is firmly focused on advancing through April’s decisive games.
