The Vegas Golden Knights have two games left before the NHL pauses for the Winter Olympics, and they desperately need to turn things around. After losing five straight and seven of their last eight, the team hosts the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday and the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday at T-Mobile Arena before the break.
Nearly half the roster will depart for Milan next week to represent their countries, but coach Bruce Cassidy suggested the recent slide may stem from players already thinking about Italy. “I think collectively as a group we’ve done a good job of staying present in the moment,” center Jack Eichel said. “We’ve known this is happening for a while.”
The Knights (25-16-14) have seen their seven-game winning streak erased by poor play. They dropped back-to-back divisional games to Seattle and Anaheim, tightening the Pacific Division standings where first through sixth place are separated by six points. Vegas is tied with Edmonton for first but holds a game in hand.
“It’s been a frustrating stretch,” defenseman Noah Hanifin said. “I think it’s hard to say we’re losing, but it is so close. I think we’re right there. Just making a couple of self-inflicted errors.”
Net-front coverage and goaltending have been issues. Offense averaged nearly five goals per game during the win streak but has slipped to 2.75 while allowing 3.75. Cassidy pointed to expected goals as a positive, noting the Knights won that battle against Seattle (2.81-2.26) and Anaheim (3.81-2.04). “We’re defending better,” he said. “I don’t think we gave up much (against Anaheim). I like that part of our game and have for most of the year.”
Eichel has three assists in the last two games after a three-game pointless streak and has been the team’s best skater. He emphasized the importance of winning the next two. “We got two before the break,” he said. “It’d be good to win both of them and head into the break feeling better about ourselves. (The Olympics) have been something that I think we’ve all kind of been looking forward to for a while, but it’s not here yet. We still have two games. Right now, our focus is on tomorrow night.”
Up next
Who: Canucks at Golden Knights
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
Where: T-Mobile Arena
TV: KMCC-34
Radio: KFLG 94.7 FM/KKGK 1340 AM
Line: Knights -300; total 6½
