The Golden Knights must take this one area away against the Dallas Stars

Look, I know that this will fall on deaf ears when it comes to the Vegas Golden Knights. They've played their worst hockey of the 2025-26 season, with Saturday's loss against the Nashville Predators being the latest example of incompetence.

Like, can this team do anything right?

Maybe not.

It seems that it isn't the case for the year in Vegas. But maybe for one night, the Golden Knights can heed this advice and do something a little different. Like, I don't know, do what Bruce Cassidy has been asking you to do here.

If you remember the last time the Golden Knights faced the Stars in Dallas, they played a constrictive game that did this. That meant that they couldn't let the Stars get into the inside and cause havoc on Adin Hill.

And it worked for the most part! Hill only let in two goals during that night and was let down by a subpar offensive attack. Still, Jason Robertson was absent from the contest and Dallas was limited to 16 shots.

So, why not run that strategy back and use that to your advantage? That could be the thing that Vegas needs to take one step towards righting the ship, even if it looks like it's heading straight towards an iceberg.

Why taking the slot away matters for the Vegas Golden Knights against the Dallas Stars

As you know, there are numerous players on the Stars that can score at will. That ranges from the dangerous Robertson to Wyatt Johnston, who has eight goals and six assists in his last 10 games (playoffs included) against Vegas. However, that's not the only reason why that's the case.

The Stars are sixth in the NHL in high-danger chances entering Sunday (602). That includes Johnston (97, tied for fourth) and Robertson (89, tied for ninth), who've made a living off of these opportunities.

If you go a step further, Johnston's tied for the league lead in high-danger goals (25). That should raise plenty of red flags for the Golden Knights on Sunday, especially if they wish to win (assuming they care, of course).

If the Golden Knights can get some defenders to take away space (think of McNabb, even with a puck at his throat), that will prove worthwhile in righting the ship. This would be a great game to see Cole Smith and Nic Dowd become defensive factors, for they can employ physical play and space management. If there was ever a good time to do what you did last game, well, that time is now.

Time is running out on the season and Vegas is running out of opportunities. There better be plenty of space taken away and plenty of Golden Knights goals. If not? Well, stick a fork in 'em because they're done.