Proud Affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights
If it feels like you it’s been a while since you’ve seen the Silver Knights on a roll like this, it’s because you haven’t.
With their 7-3 win over the Abbotsford Canucks on Sunday, the Silver Knights have won seven straight games to establish the longest winning streak in franchise history. They own the second-best winning percentage in the Western Conference, and they show no signs of slowing down.
“We’re still learning a lot. We need to continue to learn and build our game, but as it goes, it’s nice to teach as you get those results. We can teach off those scenarios,” said Head Coach Ryan Craig after Sunday’s win.
“I think our penalty kill has been really good. We gave up two tonight, but we still win the game. So we can teach off that. It’s the same way with winning.”
The HSK have been a model of balance through the season’s first month. They are third in the AHL in goals per game at 4.00, and their 2.11 goals against per game are tied for fourth. The team has scored five goals or more in each of the last four games, the first time in franchise history that the team has scored at that clip. And in each of those four games, at least nine players have registered a point.
“We’ve been rolling all four lines and everyone has been producing,” said forward Tanner Laczynski. “Everyone is doing whatever they can to get in good spots and play for each other. It’s been fun to watch and fun to be a part of.”
Laczynski has led the way, extending his points streak to seven straight games with a three-assist performance on Sunday, but he has hardly been alone. Rookies Jackson Hallum and Tuomas Uronen have surged onto the AHL scene, with Hallum riding a six-game points streak and Uronen potting five goals in six games. Braeden Bowman has netted six goals in the last six games, and Lukas Cormier and Raphael Lavoie have each racked up eight points in nine games.
Ten Silver Knights have scored at least two goals this season.
“We have gotten contributions from up and down the lineup,” said Ben Hemmerling, who has goals in three of the last four contests. “The older guys have done a great job integrating everyone in, and it makes it easier for guys to step up and play their games.”
The Silver Knights still have a long way to go and much work to do before they can put the team’s three-year playoff drought to bed. But at 7-1-1, this team is enjoying the second-best nine game start in franchise history, bested only by the 8-1-0 start of the inaugural 2020-21 team. They will play five of their next seven games at home.
“I think we’re starting to build our culture a little bit, the way we want to play,” said Laczynski. “Guys are starting to see that if we play a certain way, it’s going to pay off and we’re going to see good results.”