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Vegas Golden Knights: Three keys to beating the Coyotes on the road

By Andrew Steele-Davis

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 05: Phil Kessel #81 of the Arizona Coyotes reacts after having his shot blocked during a game against the Boston Bruins at Gila River Arena on October 05, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 05: Phil Kessel #81 of the Arizona Coyotes reacts after having his shot blocked during a game against the Boston Bruins at Gila River Arena on October 05, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 08: Jake DeBrusk #74 of the Boston Bruins skates with the puck against Nicolas Hague #14 Vegas Golden Knights in the third period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on October 8, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bruins defeated the Golden Knights 4-3. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 08: Jake DeBrusk #74 of the Boston Bruins skates with the puck against Nicolas Hague #14 Vegas Golden Knights in the third period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on October 8, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bruins defeated the Golden Knights 4-3. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

2. Cut out the turnovers

The Golden Knights allowed just two goals in their opening two games of the year against the San Jose Sharks, with Marc-Andre Fleury stopping 55 of the 57 shots he had flung in his direction.

However, the blueline was a mess against the Boston Bruins and a plethora of costly turnovers really cost Vegas in a 4-3 defeat. The Knights gave up 12 giveaways in total on what was a bad night at the office all round.

Nick Holden gave up the puck cheaply in the second period to allow Bruins defenseman Torey Krug to wire in a slapper from the point, while Deryk Engelland and Nic Hague couldn’t get the puck out of the zone in the first period which led to David Pastrnak recording his first goal of the year.

It was a disjointed effort from the Knights and you can’t afford to give up cheap giveaways on any night, let alone when you face an elite team in the Bruins who boast one of the top lines in all of hockey.

And it is clear that the Golden Knights are hurting from Nate Schmidt‘s absence, with the 28-year-old arguably one of the best puck-moving defenseman this franchise has at its disposal.

Schmidt is an expert when it comes to getting the puck out of the zone quickly, starting the transition game and leading the rush, and those elements are missing from Vegas’ overall game right now.

There will be no Nate Schmidt again tonight but the Golden Knights are going to have to tighten it up because, if they don’t, they will get punished for the second consecutive game with the likes of Phil Kessel and Clayton Keller sure to pounce on any mistakes.

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