The Vegas Golden Knights fell 5-3 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final to the Carolina Hurricanes. It was nearly another overtime game, though, as Jack Eichel had a chance to tie the game. The chance came when it was 4-3 in the third period, but Eichel missed it high.
Eichel is one of the best players on the ice and has received praise from head coach John Tortorella. Still, he has not been good enough in the Stanley Cup Final, according to Jesse Granger of The Athletic.
“In these playoffs, Eichel hasn’t looked quite as dynamic with the puck as we’re accustomed to. Over the years, he’s had so many shifts in which he jumps over the boards, demands the puck, then uses his speed and strength to bully his way through defenders, and either drives it to the net himself or sets up a teammate for a backdoor tap-in. Those shifts haven’t disappeared entirely, but they’ve become increasingly rare — a trend that stretches back to the Olympic break in February,” Granger wrote.
So far in the playoffs, Eichel has 20 total points, the second most in the league, and only behind teammate Mitch Marner. Still, he has disappeared in the Stanley Cup Final. He has just two assists and a minus-three plus/minus rating in the series. Further, he has just seven shots on net so far in the series. Still, he has had scoring chances. He is second on the team in scoring chances so far in the series, but has yet to score. In a series that has come down to just one or two plays in each game, missing those chances looms large.
“Eichel is still doing all of the little things that coaches adore, but eventually the goals need to come. It wouldn’t be remotely surprising if he breaks through with a dominant performance soon, but the time is now. He has already dominated his way to lifting the Cup once with the Golden Knights. They are going to need him to do it again,” Granger concluded.
Game 5 between the Canes and Golden Knights is on Thursday night, back in North Carolina.
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