The Vegas Golden Knights were in the driver's seat on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens. They had a 2-0 lead in the second period behind a pair of defenseman goals (Zach Whitecloud and Noah Hanifin) and were firing the puck at will. However, a few factors kept Jack Eichel and the Golden Knights from winning their seventh straight game.
First, Sam Montembeault was lights out after the first period, keeping Montreal in the game. It didn't matter if it was Tomas Hertl hitting the post or Montembeault stopping a puck with his shoulder. The representative for Team Canada pulled a reverse card on Adin Hill and company, beating the Golden Knights with his movements and puck tracking.
It was also a constricting forecheck that created turnovers, specifically on the defensive end. The Golden Knights coughed up the puck a couple of times, leading to goals from Cole Caufield and Emil Heineman. Bruce Cassidy's team got a taste of its own medicine, subjected to ongoing pressure from the Canadiens.
So let's talk about adjustments for the next game. The Golden Knights face the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday at T-Mobile Arena. It's another key matchup against an Eastern Conference team, specifically one that has given them trouble (7-5-1 against the Flyers all-time). It also calls for some tinkering to be done with the strategy. So what lessons can we learn about adjustments?
Learning about adjustments from the Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights never separated their beloved "Misfit Line" of Reilly Smith, Jonathan Marchessault, and William Karlsson... That was before Bruce Cassidy came along in 2022-23. The idea was unfathomable, for the trio went well together like the Beatles. However, Cassidy probably went, "Hey Jude! Don't you think these players could do well when they're not together?"
That's what happened during that season. Cassidy experimented with the linemates, placing them with different players. It didn't matter if it was Jonathan Marchessault with Jack Eichel or William Karlsson on the third unit. Cassidy had fun with the trio, putting them in different combinations. What did it look like with the three separated versus when they were together?
Combination | TOI | Corsi | SF% | GF | GA | GF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marchessault, Karlsson, and Smith | 396:21 | 53.71% | 53.94% | 14 | 18 | 43.75% |
Marchessault alone | 502:31 | 47.96% | 50.00% | 28 | 21 | 57.14% |
Karlsson, Smith | 406:04 | 49.24% | 51.98% | 22 | 14 | 61.11% |
Karlsson alone | 158:25 | 53.65% | 56.60% | 7 | 2 | 77.78% |
Smith alone | 148:04 | 46.42% | 51.05% | 9 | 7 | 56.25% |
One thing that stands out is the only competition the "Misfit Line" had was from Karlsson himself (Corsi and shots for percentage-wise). The trio did have more ice time (thus, more shots), yet they kept their shot selection upright. Still, that didn't translate to goals despite the limited ice time for Karlsson alone.
However, the most productive units goal-wise involved the Swedish forward. By himself, Karlsson had a goals for percentae of 77.78%. However, fans got a clearer picture of what worked best, with Karlsson and Smith boasting a goals for percentage of 61.11% in 406:04 of TOI. Therefore, Cassidy made the right adjustment putting Marchessault elsewhere.
What can you learn about adjustments in real life?
Say you're stepping on the weight scale and find you're a few pounds heavier than before. You worry about what you've been eating and need a change. Therefore, you vow to go to the gym starting on January 1st. You're not alone, though.
12% of gym membership sign-ups happen in January, with many people getting into the "New Year, New Me" mindset. While many people don't fully commit and drop out by the first month, you're not one of those people. Therefore, you're committing to bettering yourself and feeling more confident.
If there's one thing you can learn from Bruce Cassidy, Jack Eichel, and company, it's making a minor adjustment can help you. Maybe you need a spotter when doing a bench press. Perhaps you need extra motivation to get up. Whatever the case, extra assistance and adjusting will always help you.
After all, that's how the Vegas Golden Knights won the 2023 Stanley Cup. Imagine if the "Misfit Line" wasn't tinkered with during that season. What would've happened if Eichel didn't receive new linemates? It would've been an elimination at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers or Dallas Stars, leaving fans wonderin if their time will ever come. Luckily, that reality doesn't exist, all thanks to a little adjustment.