2023-06-13 03:20:58
Alex Pietrangelo is often manhandled at this time of year.
The veteran Vegas Golden Knights defenseman knows the struggles of a long run in the playoffs and its consequences.
The good news is that the players making up the Golden Knights’ defensive squad are between six-foot-one and six-foot-six, the kind of stature that has helped the Golden Knights come just one win away from winning. of the Stanley Cup.
The Golden Knights have successfully bucked the trend of smaller defensemen by having taller players in this position, able to skate quickly and circulate the puck effectively, in keeping with modern hockey.
“Players are able to roll with the punches and resist a bit more physical play,” Pietrangelo said. “As a group we are able to handle it, but I think we are skating well enough to get through it. I think we have a good balance between size and speed.”
Pietrangelo is six-foot-three while his playing partner Alec Martinez concedes two inches. Nicolas Hague is six foot six, Zach Whitecloud and Shea Theodore are both six foot two, and Brayden McNabb is six foot three
Neither of them is a hockey dinosaur of yesteryear, capable of hitting but not doing much more than clearing the front of the net. They are always tough when needed.
“We’re capable of winning puck battles and we want to try and get the puck moving quickly in transition,” Hague said.
The Golden Knights didn’t just wear down their opponents. They’ve also been able to absorb the consequences that come with a long run in the playoffs, an important ingredient for winning.
In times like these, size matters.
“Throughout the playoffs, you’re going to have guys coming on the ice and going to complete their hits,” Hague said.
“It’s a pretty tough sport, and we’ll never be left out of it, but that won’t stop us from trying to do what we have to, because we can handle it.”
With a 3-1 streak once morest the Florida Panthers, the Golden Knights are just one Stanley Cup victory away. The next game between the two teams is Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Las Vegas.
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