When you go through a routine near-comeback on Friday, you must look at the root cause of the problem. That means identifying what the Vegas Golden Knights did wrong and how they can rebound. After all, you don't grow if you don't learn.
For one, you don't get yourself into a 4-0 hole. That was a recurring theme for the Golden Knights last season, as they would watch goal after goal pour in. Of course, this was when Adin Hill was the starter and Bruce Cassidy stuck with his man until the bitter end. But the verdict still stands.
This isn't the only lesson that the Golden Knights must learn. They're going on a brief two-game road trip to the Pacific Northwest. On Sunday, Vegas will cruise to Vancouver and head to Grungetown to take on the (allegedly) greater expansion story in the Kraken.
So, what lessons must Vegas learn to ensure a successful trip? How can they get back on their feet after falling into a deep hole against Anaheim on Friday? Time to take in some beautiful mountains and see what the Golden Knights must do to get four points!
Make life easier for the Golden Knights goaltending
The first two games saw a Jekyll and Hyde performance for the Golden Knights' defensive structure. Vegas was terrific at limiting high-danger chances against the Chicago Blackhawks and gave Carter Hart a massive cushion. But the uglier side became apparent, as the Anaheim Ducks lit the Golden Knights' netminder up for four goals.
Of course, this can't be entirely blamed on Hart. The defensive structure didn't close its gaps and didn't cover his six on rebounds. That must change in the upcoming week for the goaltending to succeed.
This might be harder than imagined. The Canucks made easy work of the Oilers offensively and have 17 goals to start the season. Meanwhile, the Kraken had a six-burger on the Calgary Flames to start the season. The trip could be fatal for a Golden Knights team that doesn't shore up its defensive structure.
The Golden Knights need a strong Mitch Marner trip
A surprisingly quiet name to start the season has been Mitch Marner. The Golden Knights winger only has one assist to start the season and didn't register a point in Vegas's 5-2 win on Tuesday.
If there was ever a time for the Canadian Olympian to have an excellent road trip, it's this week. Marner has a penchant for rebounding in the biggest way, whether it's in the regular season or the playoffs. There's no better time to do that against two rebuilding teams.
Get off to a fast start
Going back to the Jekyll and Hyde comparison, the Golden Knights had this same ordeal regarding their starts. The Golden Knights scored two first-period goals in Tuesday's win over the Blackhawks. Then, they proceeded to not register a single goal in Friday's loss to the Ducks.
Again, Vancouver and Seattle aren't projected to do much this season. The Golden Knights must show they're the dominant team early and attack the offensive zone often. The Canucks and the Kraken aren't going to storm downhill the way that Anaheim does. Take advantage of this and be the aggressor.
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