Victor Olofsson possesses one of the better shots in the NHL but finding ways to utilize it has been something he’s struggled to consistently do. Over the past two games, the Vegas Golden Knights have found ways to make him as effective as possible.
The 29-year-old scored the game-winner late on Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks, recording his 14th goal and 27th point in 53 games. He began the season on the first power play unit, playing on his off-wing and opening up for one-timers, but an early injury threw him in the rear-view mirror.
Pavel Dorofeyev was elevated to the first unit and hasn’t looked back. His size and heavy shot have complimented Jack Eichel’s shot and playmaking, making him a perfect match on the top unit.
Despite the demotion, Olofsson has found ways to be an effective depth scorer. He’s doubled his goal output from his previous season with the Buffalo Sabres and is firing the puck at the net more frequently, averaging 1.9 shots per game. The 1.9 shots he’s averaging are still the second-lowest total of his career.
The previous two games against the Canucks and the Calgary Flames could serve as a sign that he is changing his approach. In the pair of games, he fired 14 shots on goal, nine came against the Flames, and five came against the Canucks. Some of his success is self-driven, but some credit should be given to his fellow countryman and linemate William Karlsson.
“It was nice to get it finally. I think I had about 15 chances these last couple games, and it was a perfect play by [Karlsson] skating in up the ice and found me right in front of the net,” Olofsson said. “I know he’s a great playmaker, and he will definitely find me in the slot, so I just tried to find some open ice, and a perfect pass by [Karlsson] and that one I fortunately didn’t miss.”
In the playoffs, the stars need to shine the brightest in order to succeed, but depth scoring is critical late in games and series. Olofsson has shown throughout the regular season that he can come up with decisive goals and if he can enter the playoffs with his confidence high, the Golden Knights can be increasingly dangerous.
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