(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
The last person to be shocked by the Golden Knights defeat on Saturday night was head coach Bruce Cassidy. Earlier in his morning press briefing Cassidy suggested his club could be looking ahead. Well, the coach was spot on, as Vegas was promptly blanked 6-0 on home ice to Utah.
I’m going to sound like Debbie Downer but there could be some let down. Light a the end of the tunnel. We’ve got a day off tomorrow. We’ve got two day between games. So, hopefully our guys aren’t looking ahead to time off. -Bruce Cassidy
It wasn’t an incoming opponent, or any upcoming Cyber Monday distractions that sparked Vegas’ dreadful performance against Utah. It was something much more significant.
Rest.
Bottom line, the Vegas Golden Knights were a tired team on Saturday night.
VGK’s November Schedule Breakdown
- 14 Games: 8-4-2 (18 Points)
- 5 Home Games/9 Road Games
- Home Record: 2-3-0
- Road Record: 6-1-2
- Record vs Playoff Teams: 2-3-1
- Days Off: 14
- Time zones: 4
- Different Start Times: 5
Vegas’ coach had hoped his team would reset after the 1st period but they just couldn’t match Utah’s energy. Cassidy understood the chances were high for an unsettling outcome hours before Saturday’s puck drop.
We’ll reset if that’s the case and address that after the 1st period if it feels like we’re not focused. It’s one thing if you’re tired and you don’t have the energy, it’s another thing if you’re not focused. Usually, a coach should be able to tell the difference. -Cassidy
Thankfully, Vegas fans are blessed with a coach that’s a straight shooter and is honest about his team’s struggles and success. After his Saturday morning comments about energy and focus, I’m sure he saw a bit of both ten hours later at T-Mobile Arena.
(Credit: MRO Analytics)
The Stanley Cup winning coach explained he knows when his players are actually tired and when they just look tired.
I could tell in Colorado at the end of the 3rd period, it’s not like we didn’t want to play the right way. We played two periods, we tried to check their top guys, we just ran out of gas. I don’t think it was a lack of focus. Toronto was. If the energy is not there some nights then it’s a little harder to get out of the guys if there’s nothing left to get. -Cassidy
It’s quite acceptable to use the exhaustion card from time to time in a lengthy regular season. However, the 2023 Stanley Cup champions should try and stay away from using rest as a future excuse. Vegas is one of 32 that travel to 41 continental destinations a season. They’ve also successfully dealt with plane-hopping, time zone jumping and quick turnarounds before. Plus, their opponent on Saturday played the night before in a different city, played 13 games in the month of November, and it was their 9th road game of the month as well.
Sure, maybe Cassidy expected a let down but not one of the worst losses in franchise history. VGK must learn from what went wrong in this game, and situation, and find a way to correct it moving forward. Fortunately, there’s very little concern they won’t.
larry
As i had previously posted I truly believe the lookahead was to the oilers and there totally annoying fans coming to The Fortress tomorrow…expect a totally different VGK that hits the ice and the utah debacle will be a thing of the past!
ThG
Had nothing to do with looking ahead, the team was on fumes after the high of beating JETS the day before. Teams don’t look three days ahead. They were exhausted.
“I could tell in Colorado at the end of the 3rd period, it’s not like we didn’t want to play the right way. We played two periods, we tried to check their top guys, we just ran out of gas. I don’t think it was a lack of focus. Toronto was. If the energy is not there some nights then it’s a little harder to get out of the guys if there’s nothing left to get.
When this happens coaches usually go to their depth in organization. Opps, wait a minute. There is nothing substantial there. Yet.
Larry
Teams and players DO look ahead…it’s a natural and recurring theme throughout all sports.
Larry
And there is also another handicapping angle coming into play Wednesday night against the ducks… it is another back-to-back… a sandwich game in between playing our 2 biggest rivals….a letdown game AND a look ahead.. just saying!
ThG
sorry but wrong, even the coach says you are full of it. He said the team was exhausted , had nothing to do with looking ahead. But more to do with what happened in rear view mirror, namely a let down AFTER they big win. That is a real handicapping angle and a MUCH bigger factor.
Look at it this way, take away the JETS game. Let’s say it never was scheduled. Based upon historical record against the Utah team, does anyone real think the VGK would have lost to them ? No way.
Case closed.
Emmanuel
Coaches & FO lie on all teams.
Why were the top two lines used so much in
a 6-0 rout? Give the bottom 2 lines ice time to
Get better looks ar Scwindt/Holtz
Larry
I truly don’t wish to be proven right by the results Tuesday and Wednesday… I hope for a sweep of the 2 games and onto to the stars on Friday… then perhaps as you claimed ‘case closed’.
Pistol Pete
Mark Stone on the ice for practice today wearing a red no-contact jersey. I can stop worrying a lower body injury could be lower back. He must have stressed his hamstring or the such.
Pistol Pete
I hate to think it is his back and this will be a trial run to feel it out. Players can play with back issues but it’s touchy. A delicate situation. I think he did that before and it did not work out. I could just relax probably.
Tim
Sorry to say Pete Stone looks like Patch #2 can’t be trusted o the ice every hit and your holding your breath is he hurt again. This song has gotten old and we’ve got 9.5 million sitting in Limbo.
Pistol Pete
That’s true Tim. We can only hold our breaths. Hopefully won’t get to the point where McCrimmon engineers a plan to acquire an elite winger in case Stone keeps going out injured. That would be hard to do. Would have to give up at least one top player and a pick.
Jose
https://images.app.goo.gl/of1GMDVcaZin5rn46
Remember
Pistol Pete
It will interesting to see if the Avs cough up $13-14m for to extend Rantanen. What a player that guy is. 6’ 4” 215 and 57 points over a point a game. He already won a Cup so he’ll probably stay there if he thinks they can win another. They’re already carrying MacKinnon at $12.5m. With the cap going up I guess it can pencil to have two players eating up $25-26m.
Pistol Pete
I was right about
Howden-Karlsson-Olofsson
Tanner-Schwindt-Holtz
Pretty sure with Stone back he’ll revert to the original centermen lineup. The Hertl line did have some decent 5 on 5 before they cooled off a little.
Barbashev-Eichel-Stone
Howden-Hertl-Dorofeyev
Holtz-Karlsson-Olofsson
Pearson-Roy-Kolesar
Scratch Schwindt
He might try switching Stone and Dorofeyev depending on how the Eichel line does ahead of Stone’s first game back.
knights fan in minny
put tp with wild bill holz has done nothing
Pistol Pete
Holtz is a work in progress and patience is called for imo. I did like how he was right there on the rush when Karlsson found Howden for the game winner vs. WPG. One of the announcers said he provided support in creating that rush from the D zone though I did not see that.
The hockey God
yeah pee pee, you are right about EVERYTHING, until you are not.
Pistol Pete
That is true. Would appreciate it if you would not call me pee pee though. That is not very nice of you.
The hockey God
those are your initials no ? P P ?
TS
Thq, You are one mean man. What did the big bad world do to you that you hate others so much?? Have you ALWAYS been a DICK??
Top Dog
Oh look it’s the piehole talking bull shit again, time to get back to your circle the adults are talking.
ThG
To TS,
What did the big bad world do to you that you hate others so much?? Have you ALWAYS been a DICK?? And a creepy stalker?
Emmanuel
Youre assuming the other guys stay healthy……
Anyways I think Holtz should be kept on the 3rd line,
he needs experience & the 3rd has historically been the weakest
line anyway.
Donald J Trump
holy shiiiiitttttt
Dems are imploding today, what a cluster you know what.
Insurrection Barbie
@DefiyantlyFree
Wow, democrats have fully taken off the mask. They are preemptively admitting that Jack Smith, Merrick Garland, the FBI and the DOJ engaged in 4 years of political prosecutions against conservatives because they are coming out and urging Joe Biden to pardon the criminal organization they call an administration, like all of them. They are urging Biden to blanket pardon everyone.
ThG
Dustin Tokarski, newly signed by Carolina, is on waivers
As is Daniil Chayka by Vegas — unconditional for the purposes of contract termination
Emmanuel
Hes 35, only the desperate would pick him up.
NAM
So we are going to pick him up? LOL
ThG
Benny Johnson
@bennyjohnson
·
23h
Insane to watch the Democrat Party atomize and destroy itself overnight.
With Joe Biden’s pardon of Hunter the entire game is up. Mask off.
Democrats are an elite cabal of parasites who grift off public office to enrich & protect themselves
The DNC is a Ponzi scheme
It’s over
TS
STFU, bitch!! YOUR piehole needs to STFU, already! Like you said, it’s OVER!!
ThG
TS get lost creepy stalker , you lost, your piehole means nothing.
“Democrats are an elite cabal of parasites who grift off public office to enrich & protect themselves
The DNC is a Ponzi scheme
It’s over”
knights fan in minny
giggles got stomped
Tim
Pete don’t let THG get to you. To disrespect your handle by referring to urine is about as low as I’ve seen him go. Were all on this site to have a little fun and express some opinions on hockey and then there are a few that have to be nasty.
ThG
Tim I wasn’t referring to urine. Want to try again ? Your comprehension skills are wearing a bit in your old age , buddy ? (don’t put words in my post again, or someone will smack your pee-pee again)
Tim
Pee Pee is not referring to urine in what universe do you live. This old guy as you refer to me is a compliment. I came to Vegas after my army discharge in 1965 and have lived to see 3 generations of my descendants born in the valley. For that to happen you’d have to be old and it’s been a great ride unlike whatever miserable life you’ve had. Hitting 80 is a lot better then the alternative and I’ve loved every minute of it.
ThG
In universe where pee pee refers to someone getting their pee pee smacked, boy your post is even lower than you are accusing others.
George V
ThG
it appears that the old guys is getting confused again, doesn’t know the difference between pee and pee-pee. Cut him a break, you know when you reach 80 the second thing to go is your brain.
JB
Tim, you hang in there buddy. It takes a sorry soul to pick on the older generation. I’m not far behind you and I respect your experience and wisdom. Ya know thg calls others stalkers, yet he is the leading poster to jump in on posts not addressed to him. We all know he is a nut job, as he has demonstrated for years now. Do your best to ignor him.
ThG
Says the social deviate who advocates blowing head off of people, what an evil sick fuck you are, lecturing other people? You are no role model. More like a piece of shit.
Maybe Timmah shouldn’t shit stir in first place because it’s obvious he’s lost a brain cell or two over time ?
JB
There you go again. I was talking with Tim not you dip shit. It’s obvious Tim has many more brain cells you pathetic idiot! You are a lonely psycho piece of shit thg.
ThG
says the sociopath advocating blowing off people’s heads ? You have no credibility, sticking up for someone who doesn’t even know pee comes out of a pee-pee. Says a lot about your overall existence in fantasyland. Bye bye.
Niggles
You are also a sociopath
JB
Oh, and where is the FBI you lying fantasy world fuck? More of your rabbit hole cult bullshit. FBI fbi fbi fbi fbi fbi fbi fbi fbi fbi , ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha . You dumb moron!
ThG
you are on the list, wait for it, Trump is not farting around like your buddy brain dead biden did.
Donald J Trump
BREAKING: A judge in Georgia just ordered Fani Willis to release all communications she had with Jack Smith and the January 6th Committee to plot the RICO case against President Trump.
The court also declared that she violated Georgia’s Open Records Law.
“The Court also hereby ORDERS Defendant to conduct a diligent search of her records for responsive materials within five business days of the entry of this Order. Within that same fiveday period, Defendant is ORDERED to provide Plaintiff with copies of all responsive records that are not legally exempted or excepted from disclosure.”
Big shoutout to
@JudicialWatch
and the GREAT
@TomFitton
for another slamdunk victory. This could bring major legal troubles for Fani if, indeed, she coordinated with the federal government to go after President Trump.
I have to say, the courts just haven’t been kind to Fani. She loses every time she opens her mouth to argue a case. She probably regrets going after Trump and just wishes she was on a cruise or cabin massaging Nathan Wade’s bald head.
Niggles
Coach called it.
Jose
Team Canada roster if I was picking it…….
Reinhart – McDavid – Marner
Marchand – Crosby – MacKinnon
Hagel – Point – Stone
Bennett – Cirellii – Konecny
Jarvis
Toews – Makar
Theodore – Pietrangelo
Morrissey – Parayko
Binnington
Hill
Montembeault
Jose
Or maybe I know already before everyone else. Wink wink wink