Bruce Cassidy is right: That's not Vegas Golden Knights hockey

The Vegas Golden Knights were flat in the first period. How flat, you ask? They had two shots in the first period of a 5-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. The Golden Knights also allowed two goals in the opening 20 minutes, leaving them in an uphill battle. The game had Bruce Cassidy speechless post-game, leaving his team to be accountable for being complacent.

"I've never seen us that listless and lose puck battles. Sometimes, when you see your full lineup in the room, you think "Okay, we're all set now, we're good." Maybe there's a little bit of that complacency. I don't know. That's certainly not us."

Bruce Cassidy

In essence, he's right. After the Golden Knights went 10-2-0 in December, they've suddenly lost three of their last four games. The complacency has been a factor, with an array of turnovers plaguing the team. In fact, they're averaging 16.07 giveaways per game, the fourth-highest in the NHL.

That trend has reared its ugly head in recent games, hurting Vegas's chances of scoring goals. It doesn't get any easier in the schedule, either. The Carolina Hurricanes await in Raleigh and it won't be an easy matchup. They have a record of 26-15-3 and 55 points to boot, making them a threat.

What can the team do? Could they shake up the lineup again and bump some players up? Will it take someone in the locker room to snap the team out of their funk? The good news is they're still in playoff position. They also have a clutch player lighting the lamp in recent days.

But there's a bright spot, starting with Pavel Dorofeyev

Believe it or not, there's been a star player during the last two games. His name? Pavel Dorofeyev. He has five goals and an assist during the pair of games, making him the team leader in goals in the process (19). Three of those have come on the man advantage, making them the sixth-best unit in the NHL (25.7%).

He showed his skills in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to Nashville, sniping a shot from beyond the slot for a hat trick. In fact, he nearly won the game by himself. The third goal is a perfect example of how he's elevated his game to new heights.

The Russian forward has taken significant steps to boost his game in the past couple of games. That type of play can build momentum for a team, motivating everyone to better their game. In turn, it can shake the Golden Knights from their complacent play, getting them closer to clinching home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Could Dorofeyev break the Golden Knights out of their complacency streak?

Sometimes, winning teams get so comfortable in their daily routines that they start forgetting about the basics. It's the natural part of sports, bringing teams back down to reality. That's what the Vegas Golden Knights are entering right now, where they've lost three of their last four games.

However, having a player like Pavel Dorofeyev step up and take charge always boosts a team's morale. It also keeps them accountable, getting a team out of their relaxed state. Suddenly, the turnovers are cut down and the team's passing the puck better. Sometimes, it takes one player to turn their fortunes around, getting them back to their winning ways.

It could also take Bruce Cassidy having a stern talk about the team's various issues, including the slow starts and puck control. If the Golden Knights can turn these issues around, they'll be better off for it. The NHL will fear the team and see what Vegas can do in May and June.