(Photo Credit: @StLouisBlues on X/Twitter)
One of the hallmarks of Golden Knights hockey has been resiliency. Through each of the first nine seasons, they’ve been a tough team to extend leads on. To start the 2025-26 season, they were continuing to build on that pattern.
In the first 32 games of the season, VGK trailed by more than two goals on just four occasions, and half of them were because of a late empty net goal. They allowed three straight goals just six times in those 32 games.
However, in the last seven games, it has taken a turn for the worse.
It all started on the road in Calgary. VGK fell into 2-0 hole early, scored one to get it back to 2-1, but then conceded three more times to go behind 5-1. It was the first time all season they had fallen behind by four goals without allowing an empty netter. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be the last.
The very next night, in Edmonton, the Oilers blitzed Vegas with a 4-0 lead in the first 27 minutes. The Golden Knights fought back and made it interesting, but fell in regulation nonetheless.
A much-needed Sharks game righted the ship over Christmas break, but things have gotten worse since. VGK played well but lost to the best team in the league, Colorado, then fell into a 5-0 hole against Minnesota, allowed four straight to Nashville, and three goals in a row at St. Louis.
We’re just finding ways to lose games right now. Simple mistakes that we are usually on top of are ending up in the back of our net right now, and it’s hurting us. We have to clean that up. -Kaedan Korczak
In the past seven games, Vegas have been down by four or more goals on three separate occasions, after doing it just once (and only because of two empty netters in the same game) in their first 32 games. They’ve allowed three straight goals five different times, four straight three times, and five out of six once.
When stuff happens against us now lately, tough goals, we have to find a way to stop the bleeding. We have to play with more confidence. Everybody plays scared because it feels like if you do one mistake it’s in the net. -Tomas Hertl
This inability to “stop the bleeding” has led to a dismal stretch of 1-5-2, which has cost the Golden Knights dearly in the standings. Despite winning just 16 of the first 31 games, Vegas held the top spot in the Pacific both by points (41 to 39) and points percentage (.661 to .609) over Anaheim. The Kings, Oilers, Sharks, and Kraken were well behind in both categories.
Now, Edmonton have the lead by points (46 to 45), and VGK’s points percentage has dipped more than 80 “points” to .577. They still have the lead in the pathetic Pacific, but it’s much closer than it has been, and there are suddenly five challengers instead of just one as it looked in mid-December.
It really is simple. Stop the bleeding inside of games, and it’ll stop in the bigger picture as well.
Jake
Cassidy on the hot seat.
Team seems lost, uncoached, poorly motivated, and lacking talent.
Yes, there are injuries
Ownership and leadership is, however, are unforgiving of such a show.
knights fan in minny
Who said he was on the hot seat
knights fan in minny
What do you wanna do regurgitate another old coach if you want something new and fresh The Denver Pioneers coach but I have heard he wants to stay in college but you never know
Dean
I think your fear of adding Hart to the roster destroying the chemistry of the organization is coming to fruition. If this team wants to get back on track, it needs to cut bait on this experiment and find another goalie. Perhaps Laurent Brossoint from Chicago? He’d be better than any goalie we have the roster and he’s on the market.
knights fan in minny
Adding hart Is the problem Get serious you don’t know that
Dean
Carter Hart’s save percentage is .876 which ranks him #71 in the NHL. His performance on the ice does not merit him a spot in the league and the team’s demise since he was added to the roster has to be questioned. If he wants to play, make it be in Henderson. It’s not working in Vegas.
Emmanuel
I am of your opinion Dean, never understood the “Hart is gonna save us BS”.
vgk21
read carefully between the lines of those 2 comments by Korczak and Hertl, and they look very much like blaming the goaltending.
“Simple mistakes that we are usually on top of are ending up in the back of our net right now”
and
“Everybody plays scared because it feels like if you do one mistake it’s in the net”
yeah, the 4 goalies have been inconsistent and leaky at times, but the other 18 guys have been worse.
hey, the Vezina goalie is in Winnipeg, and they are in last place. so that indicates that the team in front of them needs to look in the mirror for results good and bad.
but I am not absolving the goalies either. they have to be better just like everyone else.
Pistol Pete
Oilers trailing Flyers 3-1 at home abut halfway through the game. This could give us another chance to go up on them tomorrow. I know, wishing the top of the Pacific keeps losing to keep up with our losses
I get it. In fact true the Pacific really sucks right now but this is just January with a long ways to go. How teams do in the playoffs though including today’s high flyers can bear little to no resemblance to how things look today. Just something to think about when analyzing how shitty the Knights have looked of late.
Larry
Pete, the Flyers closed them out. If vGK is not doing well, my next salvation is that the $&@)( oilers lose repeatedly!!
And on a personal note Pete, thank you for stepping into the reality of how our team is now and how they are performing.
We can only hope ( and maybe pray) a turnaround is in the future.
23
Cassidy system=
rope a dope
hang back and hope
any offense? Nope
23
pregame meeting: hypothetical scenario_
Cassidy—“alright guys, now let’s hope Edm loses, and LA loses, and Sharks lose, and Ducks lose, and Seattle and Vancouver and Calgary too.”
TS
23, so funny! Well, maybe not so much…
Emmanuel
23, im also getting a “trying not to lose” vibe from the interviews.
hdbiker7851
“Everybody plays scared because it feels like if you do one mistake it’s in the net. -Tomas Hertl”. Well poster go back a number of posts and you will find reference to this very issue – is not all to do with the goalies – it’s a mental issue on the part of the entire team and Hertl just expressed that in a different way. You can’t play any sport being afraid to make a mistake. When it is no longer fun and freewheeling you are descent to lose, and they have pretty well proven that over the last few games. That’s not a goalie issue or coach issue- no not letting them off the hook – but it is a team issue and in there lies the problem. Time to reverse the trend and go out and play like you are capable of as professionals. Start tomorrow – one game at a time and get back in steep.
Vic
Still a huge fan spending time and money on the team, however, it’s no longer easy to stay awake when watching games. I no longer get that ‘exciting hockey feeling’ that I used to get from day one. Lack of desperation and lack of a troublemaker or two results in boredom. Here’s the hard part regardless of injuries, if they lose another game or two, we may lose a fine coach. This feels like the time when the higher ups tend to make coaching changes. Hope I’m wrong and winning will put this idea to rest. Need to start winning now.
hdbiker7851
Vic – it would be a huge mistake to lose Cassidy – you can lead a horse to water but can’t make him drink – this is the problem he is currently faced with which shouldn’t be the case. These guys are high paid professional – in fact I would go as far to say probably overpaid based on the results. The team is older and slower and needs some youth out there who have something to prove not unlike the original rejects of the initial team. The St Louis game it was so obvious they were sitting back happy at a tie and maybe a win in OT. Apparently, they have forgotten just how bad they are in OT and SOs.
TS
I’ve said this before, as well: Cassidy isn’t the problem
.He can coach, prepare, motivate these grown men to play well, to win— but he can’t PLAY for them
. That’s what the players get paid the Big Bucks to do. PROS understand this.PROS rise to challenges,
, practice and improve their game.
I feel it’s all mental right now. One bad loss leads to another. Doubt sets in
. And, the Elephant in this room is INJURIES. Debilitating, deflating, destroying the flow, the cohesiveness of the lines, shuffling players to fill the holes. Cassidy can’t PLAY for them, he can only work with the dimished team he has right now.
We can’t win them all, and every team, great or not, has missed the Playoffs. Some teams have NEVER won that coveted CUP– we already HAVE that prize!!
hdbiker7851
TS – I am with you – they don’t need a new coach they need some players who are more interested in winning than anything else. These overpaid Primadonna’s need to start earning their paycheck. That is not a Cassidy problem it’s a personal problem and time they look in the mirror and get their shit together. I am not certain that for some the idea of not getting hurt before the opportunity to play in the Olympics is in the back of their minds. I would hope that is not the case but who knows. Maybe today they can reverse the current trend.
TS
HD, I’m holding my breath
.Again. Time to win a damn Hockey game!! GO KNIGHTS— PLEASE!!
Scott
VGK may be pulling a fast one on this Dad’s trip. Apparently Adin Hill was in Chicago at practice today with the team…
https://x.com/DannyWebster21/status/2007548943098622226?s=20
TS
Scott, Most intriguing news, indeed.
Tim
I’m the one who said Joel Quennville wasn’t coaching at the time for some issues when he was coach of the Blackhawks I said to jump on him no one listened. Now my next coaching thought I’m not as confident in this coach but Ken do some research. Not sure of his name he coaches in Sweden and as I recall he was a hell of a coach. Now instead of a rewind of some other loser coach on the merry go round a fresh face with fresh eyes might be the ticket.
JB
Ok, for me, this is a very very important game vs Hawks today. If we lose this one, I’ll say our PO chances are very bad. We must win this one, period!
Pistol Pete
Hang in there JB. Hang in there buddy!
JB
Oh I’m hanging pal! :)
Pistol Pete
Got Howden back at center after putting Marner there. Did not watch the last game so can’t say if it lasted. McNabb listed as a scratch potentially a good sign as far as his health. NHL finally spelled Bowman’s first name correctly lol.
Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Braeden Bowman
Mark Stone — Brett Howden — Mitch Marner
Pavel Dorofeyev — Tomas Hertl — Reilly Smith
Brandon Saad — Colton Sissons — Keegan Kolesar
Noah Hanifin — Ben Hutton
Jaycob Megna — Kaedan Korczak
Jeremy Lauzon — Zach Whitecloud
Akira Schmid
Carter Hart
Scratched: Cole Reinhardt, Brayden McNabb, Alexander Holtz
Henderson's Finest
Pete, to repost from the other day, in response to your comment about bringing Cormier up, I am sure he is hurt. He has not been in Henderson’s lineup over the past few weeks, including last night. Kmec has maybe 20 games under his belt and would be completely over-matched at this time. Sedoff is more of a stay at home d man. So really the only choices you have at this time is either Megna or Coghlan. When Cormier comes back and has half a dozen or more games played, then I agree to bring him up if there is still a need.
Jose
Pistol Pete, I think Cassidy said that McNabb is week to week.
Jose
Bruce Cassidy says that Alex Holtz and Cole Reinhardt will go in today against Chicago. Braeden Bowman and Reilly Smith are out.
Top six will go back to:
Barbashev-Eichel-Stone
Dorofeyev-Hertl-Marner
Jose
Barbashev-Eichel-Stone
Marner-Hertl-Dorofeyev
Saad-Howden-Holtz
Reinhardt-Sissons-Kolesar
Hanifin-Hutton
Lauzon-Korczak
Megna-Whitecloud
Schmid