SALT LAKE CITY — The Vegas Golden Knights’ power play, ranked sixth in the NHL during the regular season, has gone cold at the worst possible time. After going 0-for-4 in Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth, the unit is 2-for-9 in the series, and the Knights trail 2-1 heading into Monday’s Game 4 at Delta Center.
Coach John Tortorella didn’t mince words Saturday when assessing the man advantage. “I think our power play is too deliberate,” he said. “I think we’re holding on to pucks too long, and when we make a play, we hold onto it.”
Tortorella indicated changes could be coming, whether in personnel or approach. “I think the way teams pre-scout, there are no secrets, especially on special teams. I think there needs to be a different look there,” he said.
One potential adjustment: getting Jack Eichel to shoot more. Eichel, who scored his first goal of the series in the second period of Game 3, had just two shot attempts and one on goal in the loss. “He came off the wall and put some shots (on net),” Tortorella said. “He’s got such a lethal shot. If they give us that space, let’s take it.”
The Knights’ power play had only one dangerous moment in Game 3, hitting the post twice in the second period. Tortorella said the issue extends to 5-on-5 play, where the team is too far on the outside. He called for a mindset shift toward getting to the inside, calling it “not a big change. It’s just a little bit of a mindset of just an emphasis on those types of things.”
Eichel echoed the need for simplicity. “I think sometimes it’s just needs to be simplified urgency,” he said. “Get pucks to the net and crash the net. But at the same time, we got to be confident when we have it and make the right play.”
Despite the loss, Tortorella maintained there were positives. “They will see some of the good things when we show our tape tomorrow,” he said. “This isn’t about browbeating and going after them. I thought we did some good things.”
