It has been 985 days since the Golden Knights won a game against the Ducks at the Honda Center. Bruce Cassidy has not led Vegas to a win, his last win in Anaheim was on February 15th, 2019 with Boston.
The Ducks have the worst record in the NHL since 2018-19. Meanwhile, Vegas sits in 7th and Boston is in 1st. Yet, each of these teams have struggled under Cassidy in Anaheim.
The last time the Golden Knights visited “The Pond,” they quickly found themselves in a hole. Anaheim opened the scoring less than five minutes into the game and then built a 4-0 lead in the next 10 minutes. VGK went into the intermission down four goals, fought back to make it 4-2 at the end of two periods, and had a power play chance to open the 3rd, but couldn’t convert and eventually fell 5-2.
The previous time, also early last season, Vegas looked to be in complete control of the game, heading into the 3rd period up 2-0 and dominating the flow of play. But the Ducks potted four goals on six shots in the final frame to flip the game on its head and send the Golden Knights packing.
Finally, in December 2022, Anaheim jumped out to a two-goal lead before the Golden Knights started peppering John Gibson’s net with a barrage of shots. VGK finished regulation with 50 shots but could only beat Gibson once shorthanded and once on a tip-in leaving the game tied at two. The Ducks ended up winning shootout.
A few specific items have plagued the Golden Knights in these games at Honda Center. First, the power play has been abysmal. VGK have gotten at least four power play opportunities in each of the three games and walked away with just one goal in the 14 opportunities.
Next is consecutive goals. Anaheim scored four straight goals in two of the games and opened the other with a pair in the 1st period.
The last is contrary to what Vegas have experienced this season. The 1st and 3rd periods have been a struggle against the Ducks. VGK are -4 in both periods while they are +3 in the middle frame. The Golden Knights have not scored a 3rd period goal in Anaheim since December of 2021.
The situation is as ripe for a win as it can be tonight for the Golden Knights though. They are not on a back-to-back, as they have been in two of the last three meetings. They are coming off a loss, which typically brings the best out of them as they hit the road. And it’s the start of the annual Father’s Trip, in which VGK are 9-0-1 all-time.
NAM
It was only last week a Sinbin article claimed “It’s rare when Vegas doesn’t take advantage of lower competition at home or on the road.” Now here is an article about not being able to beat a bottom dweller team at their barn. The statement was not even close to true. Hogwash as they say. Whatever, I am bored.
I just want to see a good game. That means whoop some ass or at least make it a competitive game. Too many times this year already I feel like the VGK are on 3/4x speed and the other team is on 1x speed. VGK just gets beat to every puck and if they have the puck are swarmed by the other team before they can do anything about it. What ever that means and whatever the cause, it would be nice if we could go back to 1x speed.
JB
Another thing is teams are realizing we are not physical. Word gets around that we can be pushed around.