The Vegas Golden Knights are learning that a roster full of skill players doesn’t guarantee shootout success. After Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime loss in Montreal, the Knights have dropped 13 games beyond regulation, tied with the Los Angeles Kings for the most in the NHL. Six of those extra-time defeats have come in shootouts, where the Knights are a dismal 1-5.
The team has converted just 4 of 17 shootout attempts across seven different skaters. Pavel Dorofeyev and Mitch Marner lead with six attempts each, while Jack Eichel is 0-for-4. Shea Theodore is 1-for-2. Their lone shootout win came Dec. 2 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
“I’m the coach, and I’m supposed to have answers in the shootout,” Bruce Cassidy said. “I would like to think our guys can score a little more because we do have talent. We have guys who have scored in this league.”
Captain Mark Stone, a career 4-for-14 in shootouts, acknowledged the difficulty. “There’s only so much you can do,” he said. “You just have to go out there and do your best stuff and hope it sticks.”
Cassidy suggested the shootout may not be a top priority for players already focused on other game situations. “Say a guy like Mitch or Jack who already chew on a lot. There’s power-play meetings, PK meetings, five-on-six meetings, six-on-five,” he said. “I don’t think you want to worry about a shootout until the shootout would come.”
The Knights are not the NHL’s worst shootout team—the Pittsburgh Penguins are 1-7—but the extra points lost are mounting. Cassidy noted the mental aspect: “I’m not sure if they’re thinking deke too much or not enough shot. I don’t have a great answer for you there.”
