One goal in three games.
No goals in all seven preseason games.
Those are the stat lines for the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period. For arguably the best forward group in the NHL, that's an alarming trend. It's even more bizarre when Brett Howden has the only goal in this particular period. Not that Brett Howden stinks or anything. But you have 11 other viable forwards to do the job.
Still, the first period has been unkind to the Golden Knights. One goal in your last five games (including last season's Stanley Cup playoffs) is a worrisome trend. You're not getting your scoring up and are relying on late-game rallies to get the job done. That's not good enough to win you games, especially when you're still figuring things out defensively.
That's especially true when the schedule picks up. You're not playing Seattle or San Jose regularly and tougher teams will be less forgiving. We're talking about clubs like Edmonton, Tampa Bay, and Florida. Those teams don't allow a grace period for teams to score a goal.
Is there a quick fix to this? Or does the forward group need some time to figure things out as a group? Believe it or not, the answer is much simpler than people realize.
The answer to the Vegas Golden Knights' first-period woes is right in front of their faces
Sometimes, it takes some time to gel together as a unit. Mitch Marner, Jack Eichel, and Ivan Barbashev are learning that as the top line. They're understanding each other's nuances and are learning to adapt to each other's styles. By doing that, they're bettering themselves and each other throughout the season.
That's also true for the Golden Knights and their first-period woes. The good news is that the season has barely begun. This coincides with Vegas surrendering the game's first goal in the first three games. If the Golden Knights can get one game where they get the jump, it'll pay dividends.
The good news is that Vegas is in the middle of a managable five-game period. They can figure things out as they go and learn how to adapt to each other's weaknesses and strengths. That's what the top line is doing and that's what this team can do overall.
This is uncharacteristic of Bruce Cassidy teams to look sluggish offensively. That's especially true when you have one of the most talented forward groups in the NHL. That's why it should take some time for the group to get back to its groove. A group of veterans that know how to win will eventually right the ship, especially in the opening frame.