Wednesday Knight Wisdom: Bruce Cassidy Is Gambling
The Vegas Golden Knights have their backs against the wall. Is Bruce Cassidy partly to blame?
Las Vegas is known for its nightlife, casinos, and gambling. Whether playing blackjack, roulette, or slots, it's a hallmark for Sin City to go big on the theme. Therefore, it's fitting that Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy took a big gamble and shifted the lineup around before Game 5. The result? A 3-2 loss where everything unraveled in the second period.
Cassidy shuffled the lineup around on Wednesday, putting Pavel Dorofeyev on the second line. The Russian forward did earn his keep this season, scoring 13 goals in the regular season. Ben Hutton was also added to the lineup, giving him valuable playoff experience. The defenseman also had three blocked shots in the game, adding two takeaways and a hit in Game 5.
But the questionable switch came in the net, with Adin Hill starting Game 5 instead of Logan Thompson. After having a memorable Game 3 and stopping 43 shots, Thompson was taken out in favor of Hill. How did he do? He stopped 22 shots and allowed three goals in the Game 5 loss.
It's not to say that Thompson would've been better in net. After all, that's why they play the game of hockey. But Thompson's recent track record suggests the Vegas Golden Knights would've been better off playing him in net. The Calgary native has proven his worth in recent months, making ridiculous saves and keeping the Golden Knights in nearly every game.
However, it isn't just Cassidy's questionable decisions hurting the Vegas Golden Knights. Alex Pietrangelo took a bad penalty in the second period, sucker-punching Tyler Seguin with a backhanded punch. The aftermath? The Dallas Stars take the 3-2 lead on a Jason Robertson power play goal. That proved to be the game-winner, with the Golden Knights now facing elimination. Of course, this isn't the first time the defenseman has done this (see Leon Draisaitl). However, it might've cost Vegas the series against the Stars.
1. Is It More Than Bad Decisions From Bruce Cassidy?
Game 5's shuffle wasn't the first time Bruce Cassidy changed the lineup in the series. Tomas Hertl was bumped off the second line and moved to the third line for Game 3. He hasn't been seen since that move. Brett Howden took his place on the second line, where he didn't do much in his own right. Such gambling has burnt Cassidy all series, with Golden Knights fans starting to notice the mishaps.
Everything will go back to Cassidy shuffling the lineup too much if the Golden Knights are eliminated by the Dallas Stars. It messes with the chemistry and causes players doing great to suddenly stagnate. With questionable decisions come observations of Cassidy being outcoached by former Golden Knights head coach, Pete DeBoer. How has DeBoer taken command of the series?
The Stars' head coach has relied on his offense attacking the Golden Knights at every turn. That led to Dallas controlling the neutral zone and creating more high-danger chances, wearing down Vegas. While DeBoer's "spray and pray" strategy might seem like a desperation attempt, it's been effective at breaking the Golden Knights down. That's what happened in Game 3, where Vegas was too worn out to muster an offensive front in overtime. Dallas having an xGoals% (expected goals percentage) of 64.05% entering Game 5 proves that.
2. What's Happening Around the League?
Aside from the Vegas Golden Knights free-falling, there have been some teams advancing to the next round. The New York Rangers performed a clean sweep of the hapless Washington Capitals, showcasing why they were the President's Trophy winners. Detroit Red Wings fans must be screaming at their television sets right now, claiming they'd have a better shot at the Rangers.
Granted, their play hasn't been perfect throughout the series, with some games where they let Washington hang around. However, the high-scoring Rangers are moving on, getting ready to play the Carolina Hurricanes. This will be a fun match-up to watch.
The Hurricanes disposed of the New York Islanders, 4-1. With Carolina doubling up the Islanders in Game 5 by a score of 6-3, they'll prepare for another heavyweight in the Rangers. With a star-studded lineup consisting of Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider, the other New York team will be a more suitable challenge for the Hurricanes.
Meanwhile, the Avalanche and Panthers advanced to the second round as well. But one noteworthy series to watch is between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. Can the Maple Leafs come back from a 3-1 deficit and win the series? They got a head start on Tuesday with a 2-1 overtime victory. Credit Matthew Knies for the game-winner, who should also provide the Vegas Golden Knights with some tips on how to score clutch goals against a dominating team. The Nashville Predators might follow in Toronto's steps, winning their Game 5 match-up on Tuesday.
3. Is Jonathan Marchessault Re-Signed Yet?
Sadly, there's nothing on the "Vegas Golden Knights re-sign Jonathan Marchessault" front lately. The winger has had a decent series against the Dallas Stars, chipping in two goals and two assists. With his playoff performance and his 42-goal season in 2023-2024, Golden Knights fans would love a reunion with the beloved "Misfit."
But Friday might be the last time that Golden Knights fans see No. 81 in the gold jersey. He's 33 years old and is a bit undersized on Vegas, which makes him prime bait for not coming back. However, there's still value to his game, for he still has an excellent shot and is valuable on the power play. His special teams presence has made the beleaguered unit much better, for he uses his offensive prowess to his advantage.
For many Golden Knights fans, they might not be ready to see one of the most beloved "Misfits" go. He's produced countless clutch memories, both in the regular season and in the playoffs. Vegas Golden Knights hockey was made in part to Marchessault's contributions, and it'll be tough seeing the former Conn Smythe winner go anywhere else.
If Friday is indeed the last time Jonathan Marchessault is with the Vegas Golden Knights, he'll be remembered for his bubbly personality and being an all-around good guy. The former Conn Smythe winner should be honored for being in Vegas since "Day F*****n One," getting a memorable ceremony upon his return.
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