Look, all I'm going to say about yesterday's Vegas Golden Knights loss was this. I was watching Monday Night Football, so I didn't see Logan Cooley single-handedly take over the hockey game with four goals and an assist. Perhaps that was a good thing, although watching Brock Purdy throw three interceptions was just as painful as watching Cooley get a natural hat trick.
Oh, sure, things were close after two periods. The Golden Knights were down by only one goal, thanks to an Ivan Barbashev back-hander. However, things quickly unraveled because of one particular moment.
Roll the tape.
TOO COOL 🥶
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 25, 2025
Logan Cooley has his second goal of the night ✌️ pic.twitter.com/YfDkQxfbc5
Oooh, boy. That's a rough watch.
Believe it or not, it was a Jack Eichel turnover that surrendered all momentum and turned this into a game-sealing breakaway goal. The next thing you know, Cooley gets two empty-netters and this game quickly becomes a 5-1 laugher.
Ironically, comparing this game to the Monday Night Football matchup reveals a stark contrast between the San Francisco 49ers and the Golden Knights. The 49ers handled three interceptions from Purdy well. How? A Robert Saleh defense that didn't break, taking the pressure off the offense.
You couldn't say the same for the Golden Knights, who struggled to generate anything throughout Monday night. 14 giveaways (like the Eichel giveaway) resulted in Utah getting key rushes, burning Vegas in the process.
What can Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights learn from the San Francisco 49ers?
Look, I've dunked on Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers plenty of times on here. After all, it's that I truly care. However, San Francisco's in a similar situation as the Golden Knights. They're banged up right now, missing superstars such as Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.
Yet, that hasn't stopped Shanahan and Saleh from keeping their team in playoff contention. The Golden Knights overcame three interceptions to defeat an upstart Carolina Panthers team by two scores. Of course, it helps to have Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle in the mix. However, the point still stands: San Francisco has utilised its team much better despite injuries hampering them than Vegas has.
Without William Karlsson taking away the middle of the ice or Adin Hill in the net, that has drastically hindered Vegas. Suddenly, you're seeing Carl Lindbom have some regrettable moments in games (although Monday wasn't too bad). That also means a power play unit that hasn't figured it out until a rookie joined the team during the season.
Normally, I don't equate learning lessons with a distinguished coach like Bruce Cassidy. But perhaps Cassidy could learn something from Shanahan regarding how to handle adversity with injuries this season. After all, it's how the 49ers defeated playoff teams like the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams. As for the Golden Knights? Those Carolina Hurricanes victories can only go so far.
It's time for Vegas to start digging deep and making the magic happen. Tough teams like the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens are coming to town, meaning that the competition's getting tougher. If Shanahan can get the most from his top superstars, that should be no different for Cassidy and Eichel. Otherwise, you'll see more giveaways like Eichel's haunt you.