The Vegas Golden Knights’ offensive woes continued Saturday, but this time their special teams couldn’t bail them out. A 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena extended their losing streak to three games, with the team managing just one goal for the third straight contest.
Goaltender Akira Schmid, making his first start since March 6, stopped 16 of 20 shots. Schmid had relieved Adin Hill on Thursday after Hill allowed three goals on three shots, but the Knights’ offense again failed to provide support. Vegas has been outscored 10-1 during the skid.
“It’s just tough bounces right now,” winger Cole Smith said. “We’re working hard. We’re creating chances. Teams have been very opportunistic against us. It’s tough. It’s frustrating.”
First-period dominance, no reward
The Knights fired 20 shots on Nashville goaltender Justus Annunen in the first period, controlling play and generating 2.77 expected goals to Nashville’s 0.2, according to Natural Stat Trick. But Annunen turned them all aside, and Steven Stamkos had already given the Predators a 1-0 lead 40 seconds in on a quick wrist shot. The goal came after Jack Eichel iced the puck on the opening shift and lost the ensuing faceoff. It was the 11th time this season Vegas allowed a goal on the first shot.
“We can’t keep allowing the first goal on the first shot of the game,” coach Bruce Cassidy said.
Special teams unravel in second
Vegas had killed 23 of its last 24 penalties entering Saturday, but the penalty kill faltered. Stamkos scored his second of the game 1:24 into the second period on a power play after Shea Theodore was assessed a double minor for high-sticking. Then, with the Knights on a power play, Mitch Marner turned the puck over at the blue line, leading to a 3-on-1 shorthanded goal by Tyson Jost at 11:56. Theodore finally ended the Knights’ goal drought — which had reached 180 minutes, 19 seconds — with a power-play goal at 13:10, but Ryan O’Reilly restored the three-goal lead with a power-play goal of his own at 14:53.
“We could’ve been a little better on the power play,” Cassidy said. “We gave them one on an unforced error. That didn’t help our cause.”
Offensive struggles deepen
Vegas has scored just one goal in its last three games and 16 in its last eight. Key players have gone cold: Jack Eichel has six points in 12 games since the Olympic break, Mark Stone has two points in seven games, and Tomas Hertl hasn’t scored since March 4. Only Pavel Dorofeyev is averaging a point per game in that span.
“Guys we rely on just haven’t gotten it done or are a little snakebitten,” Cassidy said. “It’s just not going in the net.”
The loss also tightened the Western Conference wild-card race, as Nashville joined the cluster with Los Angeles and San Jose. The Knights (31-25-14) face a quick turnaround Sunday against the Dallas Stars, who are on a hot streak.
“Good thing is we’re right back at it tomorrow. We’ve got another chance to go at it,” winger Brett Howden said. “Get ready for tomorrow and try to come up with a win.”
