The Vegas Golden Knights have some questions to answer. They must figure out some things on their team and look long and hard at their squad's overall structure. After all, nobody likes watching the team get blitzkrieged by the Utah Mammoth in the first period.
As if getting wrecked by the Mammoth wasn't enough, the Golden Knights have a daunting three-game road trip ahead. That consists of games against the upstart Nashville Predators, the tough Dallas Stars, and the Winnipeg Jets. That could send Vegas down into the abyss, establishing their fall from grace.
That's terrible news for a Golden Knights team that has underachieved throughout the 2025-26 season. Suddenly, fans are nervous about the team collapsing like Wisconsin in the first round (How DARE you bust my bracket, Badgers!). Now, the burners are on a Golden Knights team that had Stanley Cup aspirations to begin the season.
So, let's look at the three things that Vegas must shore up for the upcoming trip. Granted, they've had these problems throughout the season. But what better time to start the turnaround and make the right changes than now? After all, you don't want to slip up at the wrong time.
1.) Get the offense consistent and running
It seemed like everything was going well to start the four-game homestand. The Golden Knights start the stretch with 10 goals in the first two games, leaving everyone to feel good about themselves. Certainly, those feelings would carry over to the final two games, right?
As of this piece, the Golden Knights haven't scored since the 8:09 mark of the second period of Saturday's game against the Blackhawks. Suddenly, the group looks lost and needs some help.
That means figuring out the offensive structure and Bruce Cassidy doing one of his patented line shuffles. Whatever the case, Vegas can't let offensive struggles dictate its three-game road trip. Otherwise, they're in for a world of hurt.
2.) Get the defensive structure and goaltending figured out... again
Hey, remember when I was singing Adin Hill's praises and advocating for him for his past five games prior to Thursday? Well, he threw all that goodwill away by whiffing on all three shots that came his way.
Yes, you read that right. He allowed goals on all three shots that he faced on Thursday.
Part of the issue has been the defensive units missing their assignments. Of course, this has been a problem throughout the season. However, both groups can't flinch on the road trip.
3.) The slow starts... again
This has been part of the offensive problem for the Golden Knights this season. The last two games of the homestand saw Vegas score no goals in the first period, leaving them starving for offense.
What happens when you continue to find yourselves in deep holes every game and you can't dig yourself out of said holes? That's what Vegas faces for the upcoming road trip, where a vaunted trip to Texas looms with trap games sprinkled in between.