Livescore
The Golden Knights have lost three in a row just once this season, in mid-October, and haven’t duplicated that skid since.
Fans should brace themselves for Saturday’s game in Chicago, the second leg of a back-to-back after Friday’s 3-2 loss in Carolina.
It marked the fifth time this season Vegas has lost two straight, and the way things are going, it wouldn’t be much of a shock if the Knights lose a third straight game before returning home for Monday’s game versus St. Louis.
All that said, this current 1-4 slide shouldn’t provoke panic mode by any means.
“We’re not scoring at the level we were, so we have to look ourselves and say why not, and some guys we rely on” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “The rush game was going great, say for Eichel’s line early on … now teams have shut some of that down. And some other guys that we rely on to score haven’t for a while.
“The defense has to be good, and I think it has been for the most part. I don’t think we’re terrible defensively. … We do have to start getting some of those goals to go our way, by playing that type of game a little more, where we’re going to the net and looking for second chances.”
During the Stanley Cup season two years ago, the Golden Knights were 28-15-2 through 45 games. During that stretch, they ranked 15th in the league with 3.20 goals per game and 12th in allowing 2.87. Their power play was eighth in the NHL (24.8%) and their penalty kill was 16th (79.1%)
After Friday’s loss to the Hurricanes, the Knights are 29-13-3 after 45 contests. In regards to those same statistical categories, the Golden Knights came into Friday’s game ranking fourth in the league in scoring 3.41 goals per game and sixth in allowing an identical 2.68 per contest. Their power play was fifth in the NHL (25.2%) while their penalty kill ranked 20th (78.0%).
Ironically, one of their worst stretches of hockey was during the same timeframe in 2023, during that championship campaign, from Jan. 14 through Jan. 28. The eventual champs endured a 1-5-2 skid, including a four-game losing streak just before the All-Star Break.
Upon returning, the Golden Knights won five straight while closing the campaign on a 22-4-5 roll.
True, many members of that championship team are gone, including Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault. However, the additions of veterans Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl have bolstered the offense.
In fact, six of the top 10 point-getters through 45 games on the championship team are still on the roster, including three of the top four: Mark Stone, Jack Eichel and William Karlsson.
And with young guns Pavel Dorofeyev, Alexander Holtz, and Cole Schwindt, there’s going to be a learning curve as they continue to develop and build chemistry with the veterans. If anything, that chemistry has come along quicker than expected.
“I’m not doubting anybody, I just don’t like to lose,” Cassidy said. “It seems like we’re this close to winning every night. So that’s a little bit of adversity.
“There are a lot of things we’re doing well and hopefully it translates tomorrow.”
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