(Las Vegas) Not everyone likes to talk about their own weight, but Vegas Golden Knights defensemen obviously do.
This was also a bit of the theme of this little Sunday in the camp of Vegas players: we talked about weight.
It was ironic, too: while at the back of the room, Golden Knights employees were busy preparing a hearty buffet that was sure to allow members of the media to gain weight, too much in in this case, the players of the Golden Knights, they were pleased with the size of their defense.
“We know the Panthers are going to come after us. [lundi soir]but our size will allow us to deal with that, ”said Alex Pietrangelo, himself a member of this sturdy defense.
If there’s one place where gaining weight is a very good thing, it’s probably on NHL ice, especially in the playoffs, where no one is in the lace.
In the first match of this final, Saturday evening, we noticed very well that the visit of Florida does not take offense in good manners.
William Carrier noticed it too.
“At one point I saw a guy from the Panthers trying to get around [Brayden] McNabb, he explained. But McNabb has such a long stick that it’s not easy… In this league, you have 5’10 defensemen, you have 6’6 defensemen, and if you give me the choice, I would choose to play against the 5’10” defender anytime! »
PHOTO JOHN LOCHER, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Brayden McNabb (3)
The McNabb in question here is one of the big guys on the Golden Knights blue line, although this one is not even the biggest guy; this title goes rather to his teammate Nicolas Hague, from the top of his 6 ft 6 in and 230 lbs. The group is completed by Messrs. Pietrangelo (215 lbs), Martinez (210 lbs), Whitecloud (207 lbs) as well as Shea Theodore, the small format of the group, at only 197 lbs.
All that mass is a marked advantage right now, according to Pietrangelo.
The size of the defense is very important, especially against a club like the Panthers, which is very good at forechecking. But what makes our group so special is that everyone can skate and carry the puck.
Alex Pietrangelo
“We saw it in the first game, our defenders can also contribute in attack. So in my eyes, it is this combination of size and this skate that allows us to be as effective as we are, both in our territory and in opposing territory. »
Pietrangelo is not wrong; in the first game of this final, Saturday night in Las Vegas, two goals were scored by Golden Knights defenders, including the winning one, scored by Zach Whitecloud.
Everyone has noticed that the Panthers don’t hate rough play and fuss in any form, but maybe this time such strategies will prove less effective.
In any case, that’s what Pietrangelo believes. And hope.
“I would say that we are used to it, concluded the defender. In previous rounds, the Dallas Stars players tried to play like that, the Winnipeg Jets players did too. We expect it, and we know that we have to move the puck against a team that is aggressive like the Panthers. »