(Photo Credit: @GoldenKnights on X/Twitter)
Falling behind has become a bit of a bad habit for the Golden Knights. However, they have an opposite habit that’s been overpowering it.
The Golden Knights have fallen behind by multiple goals in five of the last six games. They’ve managed to tie the game in three of the five and went on to win each of the last two against Winnipeg and Columbus.
I always feel like we can come back. It’s a sign of a good team, it’s just about doing it. -Mark Stone
There’s been no question, basically the entire season, that the Golden Knights play much better when they are down. Only the Colorado Avalanche have a better goal share when trailing this season. VGK have actually outscored the record-pacing Avs by a wide margin scoring 54 goals to Colorado’s 40.
The problem is that scoring a bunch of goals when trailing isn’t actually the sign of a good team. In fact, there are only four teams ahead of Vegas this season (ANA, OTT, VAN, NSH) and they are all on the outside of the playoff picture. Last year, every single one of the top 10 teams in goals scored when behind failed to qualify for the postseason.
I’ve said this many times, it’s almost like our guys need to be pushed to their backs against the wall. Something needs to happen instead of initiating. It’s almost like we react and we react well. -Bruce Cassidy
While it does show resiliency, it’s not exactly reliable. This is why VGK are looking for ways to play like they are down, even when they aren’t.
I would hope we would apply what we just did to the opening faceoff. Maybe this will get our attention and we’ll get going from the start. -Cassidy
The Golden Knights remain in the bottom 10 in the league for most time trailing this season and it’s among a bundle of underachieving teams.
This team has proven time and time again that going behind isn’t the death sentence it is for most teams. Now they need to prove they can win without it.
hdbiker7851
Playing from behind on the surface may not seem like a death sentence, but continuing to do so could very well catch up to them. This definitely isn’t Stanley Cup hockey and a trend they need to address sooner than later. While it may be fine not being concerned as Stone indicated that gets pretty old and requires much more effort than necessary as you can see watching many of these guys are anxious to get back to the bench even after a short stint on the ice. Age catches up regardless of what shape you are in. Start playing period one like you are behind will be much simpler in the long run. Of course, scoring first and often is ideal – the second part of that is remembering the game is 60 minutes so sitting back with a lead is not acceptable. Unfortunately, they have demonstrated that trend way to often – sitting back that is. Onward and upward!!!!!
knights fan in minny
TSN reporting Carter is week to week
NAM
Great, Saad hurt and Doro is moving back up to destroy a producing line. Your 25-26 Golden Knights!
knights fan in minny
saad Is no big loss
larry
A look into the future and a look into the past:
I have obviously been a broken record as regarding Saad staying a member of the Golden Knights, I had predicted he would be waived at the 30 game mark, which if Karlsson had been healthy might have happened, but perhaps this is the last we see of him going forward into the future.
I had obviously been a broken record 3 years ago as regarding Kessel staying in the lineup as he added nothing on the ice, but the storyline was he was great in the locker room and had that consecutive game streak nonsense it seemed Cassidy didnt want to affect. Lo and behold, Kessel is finally scratched in the playoffs of 2023, and the rest as we all know is history, could Saad being injured lead us down that path again??
knights fan in minny
You never know stranger things have happened
Pistol Pete
Like the idea of Marner centering the team’s co-goal scoring leader on his stronger side nonetheless GKG!