The Vegas Golden Knights trail the Utah Mammoth 2-1 in their first-round playoff series, and the reason is as clear as the scoreboard: their highest-paid players aren’t producing.
While Utah has gotten two goals each from three top-six forwards and a top-four defenseman, the Knights are relying on their fourth line for offense. Center Nic Dowd has two goals, and the team’s depth has accounted for three goals from the fourth line. Meanwhile, Jack Eichel scored his first of the playoffs Friday, but it came when the Knights were already down 4-0. Captain Mark Stone has two power-play goals, but none at even strength.
“We need to get some guys on track,” coach John Tortorella said. “I’m not going to shy away from it. Our top guys have got to score some goals for us. They know that, too. I don’t have to remind them. They know that.”
Seven Knights players have yet to register a point, including top-four defensemen Shea Theodore and Rasmus Andersson (combined minus-3) and top-six winger Brett Howden. Pavel Dorofeyev, who led the team with 37 regular-season goals, was demoted to the fourth line in Game 3 and didn’t generate his best chances until that move.
Despite the 4-2 loss Friday, the Knights held Utah to just 12 shots — the fewest ever allowed by the franchise in a playoff game — and controlled much of the play in the offensive zone. Tortorella emphasized that defense must come first.
“We still need to get some guys on track, but I want us to defend the proper way,” Tortorella said. “I think that’s the most important thing. We defend the proper way, our offense will come. I have full trust in the guys that way.”
The power play went 0-for-4 in Game 3, failing to give the top players a chance to find a rhythm. Tomas Hertl has not scored since March 4, and Mitch Marner, despite being the Knights’ best player Friday, has no goals in three games.
The cumulative series score is 9-8 in favor of Utah, and five players from each team have scored. The difference is who is doing the scoring.
“There’s a reason there’s seven games in a series,” Dowd said. “I think that the belief in this group doesn’t change with the outcome of a game. You do things the right way, you’re going to be successful in life. I think hockey is the same way.”
Game 4 is Monday at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
