Bruce Cassidy had a telling quote regarding the slide that the Vegas Golden Knights are on after Sunday's loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Fans could tell that the head coach was frustrated with the team's lack of direction in recent weeks, leaving him to say the following...
"Enough's enough. If the guys believe they are a 1st place team, a contender, then enough's enough, start playing like one."Bruce Cassidy
Similar sentiments were echoed by Mark Stone, talking about how everyone needed to elevate their games. That ranged from the forwards to the defense, with the Captain calling for the entire team to pick up the slack.
Right now, these are trying times for the Golden Knights. They've found ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, whether it's defensive lapses or untimely penalties. But they could have a gift on Tuesday against an opponent who has it worse.
I mean, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay worse. We're talking about a nine-game losing streak entering Monday's slate of games. In fact, the Winnipeg Jets are the worst team in the NHL with 34 points. Mind you, the same thing was said about the Blackhawks before Tyler Bertuzzi single-handedly defeated Vegas on Sunday.
So, let's map out a successful path to beating this mediocre team. Here's how the limping Golden Knights can take down the Jets and give fans a small glimmer of hope for the 2025-26 season.
Beating the Winnipeg Jets starts with getting more blocked shots for the Golden Knights
When you see the Jets, they still have the usual suspects on their squad. We're talking about Kyle Connor (19 goals and 29 assists) and Mark Scheifele (20 goals and 28 assists) leading the offensive charge. I haven't even mentioned Connor Hellebuyck, who's looked... pedestrian?
Don't get me wrong. A GAA of 2.58 and a save percentage of .905 are good stats. But this is the reigning Hart Memorial Trophy winner that we're talking about here. Believe it or not, he has a career GAA of 2.99 against the Golden Knights, indicating that Vegas must get pucks on net, especially if he starts.
That's one way to do it. I would love to see this as an explosive game for Jack Eichel, who only had one assist since his return. What better way for the Golden Knights' shots leader (121) to explode than against a goaltender who's been average against Vegas?
The Golden Knights must also be better defensively
But the Golden Knights won't just win by firing more shots. They must win the shots battle altogether. The Jets enter Monday with the eighth-fewest team shots (1,085). Now, that was a moot point since Chicago outshot Vegas, 20-15. Mind you, the Blackhawks had the fourth-fewest shots in the NHL entering Monday (1,053).
Still, the objective remains the same. Stone talks about how everyone must play a role and step up. That's no different for the blue line, specifically without Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb (I'm looking at you, Jaycob Megna).
Sunday's game was a perfect lesson in how the Golden Knights shouldn't approach a weaker opponent. The team struggled to generate any offense in the third period, barely giving Arvid Soderblom a test. That can't happen again against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. Otherwise, those rumblings and rumors will be at a fever pitch.