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Vegas’ Baked In Success In Motion For Tortorella

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On April 2, 2026

In Team Ops

(Credit: NHL.com)

Tonight, the John Tortorella-led Golden Knights are aiming for a 2-0-0 start under their new coach. Monday represented the fourth time a Golden Knights coach won in their Vegas coaching debut. Picking up two points against the Flames would make Tortorella the third VGK coach to record two victories in their first two games. Monday’s win allowed for some much-needed optimism surrounding the Golden Knights, and it was all part of the firing/hiring plan.

I want to coach. This was an opportunity that came at me pretty quickly. It’s a great organization and a great group of guys. I think I do have to make an adjustment in how I coach here. I think it’s going to make me a better coach in being involved in a situation with a group of guys that are battle tested, played a ton of playoff games and won a championship two or three years ago. I just want to join and help. –John Tortorella, VGK coach on ESPN

In 2017, the first-ever VGK coach, Gerard Gallant, picked up his first victory in the franchise’s first-ever game. Next, Peter DeBoer defeated the Ottawa Senators on the road to stop a losing skid. Freshly fired Bruce Cassidy recorded his first in VGK’s 2022-23 season opener. Fast forward 321 games, and like clockwork, new boss Tortorella became the fourth VGK coach to go 1-0-0. Sure, it’s only one night of success, but it’s a small and vital way for a coach to kick off his tenure.

In Tortorella’s case, the victory, albeit against the hapless Vancouver Canucks, snapped Vegas out of their winless streak and helped fans to quickly move on from the shocking decision to swap coaches 24 hours earlier.

For the second time in team history, the Golden Knights made an in-season coaching change and followed their pattern from six years ago. VGK’s front office set Tortorella up with the same courtesy they did for DeBoer. With a patsy opponent in the first game of the new tenure, the team wakes up from their slumber, the new coach gets off to a good start, and the fans are less upset with the decision. It’s a win for everyone involved. Arguably, it’s one of the smartest tricks the Golden Knights organization has up their sleeves.

The same strategy was first implemented in February 2020. The front office relieved Gallant from his duties a day before a manageable matchup against the 16-23-8 Senators. The Golden Knights set DeBoer up to make his debut against Ottawa. The formula worked out perfectly. Vegas broke out of their losing skid; the new coach picked up his first win, and the fans quickly forgot about Gallant’s exit. It worked out so well hardly anyone remembers DeBoer and the Golden Knights losing the next two contests, one in shootout to Montreal and the next to Cassidy’s Bruins in Boston.

Of course, it’s a calculated and somewhat duplicitous move, clever nonetheless. The front office sets up their current coach for success, boosting the club’s and fans’ confidence. What the Golden Knights need right now is points and cohesion.

Monday’s win was a mindful decision by the organization to set Tortorella off on the right foot. As is tonight’s game against the 31-35-8 Calgary Flames coming off a 9-2 drubbing in Colorado.

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Stone’s Aggressive Nature Triggered Stars’ Late Game Turnaround

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On January 29, 2025

In Game Analysis

(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

Since the day the Golden Knights acquired Mark Stone, fans have witnessed one of the most driven, effort-reliant athletes in professional sports. It’s been his signature style of play and the Golden Knights have greatly benefited from it. From divisional and conference titles to a Stanley Cup trophy, Stone has led the way through it all. However, his overaggressive behavior cost the Golden Knights a point last night against the Dallas Stars.

I go to reach to try and angle him out, and I’m not sure who it was that tripped me and I fell forward. You never want to see guys get hurt, and I hope he’s alright. I was trying to make a play and got tripped into him. -Mark Stone

The Golden Knights captain adamantly denied any malice after he directly or indirectly tripped into star defenseman Miro Heiskanen’s knee. It was an unfortunate incident that resulted in a two-minute penalty for Stone and a likely IR trip for Heiskanen. What could have twisted into a payback style of finish, the Stars exacted revenge on the ice with a 4-3 comeback win, which was at least in part fueled by Stone’s questionable lunge.

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Vegas’ Chance To Turnaround January Already Underway

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On January 24, 2025

In Team Ops

(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

The Golden Knights limped into last night’s game in St. Louis officially on their perennial January skid. However, before they boarded their Missouri bound plane from LAS airport, Vegas began their recovery. Before last night’s 4-2 victory over the Blues, Vegas found a way to salvage a point on Monday night and took the full two points on Thursday. A win tonight in Dallas would almost wipe away the poor results to start 2025.

Really good rival. Really good team. Not a lot of separation between the two teams over the last two years. They got us the first time around; we got them last year. It’s great hockey when we get together with them. –Pete DeBoer, Dallas Stars head coach

The 31st franchise was in desperate need of a win last night in St. Louis and went on to earn three points in consecutive games against the Blues. A split with St. Louis would have been acceptable but the extra effort to scoop up a point on Monday could have begun a new streak. Of course, that will depend on how the team performs tonight in Dallas and during their difficult upcoming stretch.

VGK’s Remaining Schedule Before 4 Nations Faceoff Break

  • January 24th @ Dallas
  • January 26th vs Florida
  • January 28th vs Dallas
  • January 30th vs Columbus
  • February 2nd @ New York Rangers
  • February 4th @ New York Islanders
  • February 6th @ New Jersey
  • February 8th @ Boston

Beginning tonight, the Golden Knights will face eight consecutive quality opponents, three at home and five on the road. Sure, there’s an argument if the Islanders and Rangers are competitive clubs but remember, both teams held Vegas to one goal combined earlier this month. Remember, the Golden Knights aren’t exactly world-beaters against stud goaltenders like Igor Shesterkin and Ilya Sorokin. Let’s not forget Jake Oettinger, who will be tending tonight for Dallas.

Historically, Vegas has struggled in Boston but has been strong in Newark and New York City. In six games at Madison Square Garden the Golden Knights are 4-2-0 and 3-1-2 against the Islanders in various metropolitan venues. When they cross the Hudson River, the Golden Knights have a lifetime record of 3-0-3 against the Devils in New Jersey. Past history suggests the Pacific Division’s 1st Place team will find success on next month’s four-game Eastern Conference road trip.

With a strong finish before the 13-day tournament break, the Golden Knights can rinse their mouth of another ugly January swoon. Considering the strength of schedule, if Vegas can survive the challenging stretch, they should consider themselves in a good position for the final two months of the regular season. Now, if they struggle to collect points over the next eight games, there will be concern. I can’t imagine a happy group of Golden Knights come mid-February.

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Cassidy Entering Dangerous Third Season With Golden Knights

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On August 28, 2024

In Team Ops

(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

Bruce Cassidy is entering his third season as head coach of the Golden Knights. These have proved to be treacherous waters for the previous two bench bosses in Vegas as Gerard Gallant was let go midway through his third year and Pete DeBoer was fired at the end of his third season in charge.

Starting the season slowly proved costly for both Gallant and DeBoer in their final seasons coaching the Golden Knights.

Gallant’s third-year team won the first two games against the San Jose Sharks but then stumbled to a 9-8-3 mark after the first 20 games. DeBoer’s final season began with a thud as the Golden Knights lost three of the first four games to fall into a hole it would take them months to climb out of truly.

However, the 2019-20 and 2021-22 Golden Knights were each in prime position as the calendar turned. Both Gallant and DeBoer earned the nod as All Star Game head coach for leading their teams to 1st place in the division on January 1st.

Gallant would lose his position after dropping four straight games and six of 10 to see the Golden Knights fall out of the playoff picture while DeBoer’s team lost three key games in a row down the stretch to miss the playoffs entirely.

Cassidy didn’t reach a third season in his first coaching stint in Washington, however, his third year in Boston was his best. Those Bruins started the season strong with an 11-6-3 record. They went nuts when at the start of January winning 21 of 29 games and the 2018-19 Bruins ultimately reached the Stanley Cup Final, losing in seven games to the St. Louis Blues.

When Cassidy steps behind the bench at T-Mobile Arena on Opening Night, October 9th, he’ll have held the job for 848 days. That’s just four fewer than Pete DeBoer. It will be his 165th regular season game in charge of the Golden Knights, already more than DeBoer’s 160.

Cassidy will become the longest-tenured head coach in Golden Knights history if he makes it to March 18th, 2025, passing Gallant’s 1,008 days in charge of the team. He needs 50 games to pass Gallant’s regular season total of 213 games.

April 12th, 2024 – Passed DeBoer’s regular season games (161)
October 14th, 2024 – To pass DeBoer’s days (853)
October 22nd, 2024 – To pass DeBoer’s total games (199)
January 23rd, 2025 – To pass Gallant’s total games (241)
January 26th, 2025 – To pass Gallant’s regular season games (214)
March 18th, 2025 – To pass Gallant’s days (1,009)

Cassidy currently boasts a .637 points percentage as head coach of the Golden Knights. That’s ahead of Gallant’s .601 but behind DeBoer’s .650. To become the winningest coach in VGK history, Cassidy would need this year’s Golden Knights to reach 112 points in 82 games.

So, if Bruce Cassidy reaches the end of the season, with his team winning 112 or more points, and goes on to play 11 or more playoff games, he will become the longest-tenured with the most regular season and playoff games, and the winningest coach Vegas has ever had.

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Cassidy And Eichel Will Battle It Out In 2025 4 Nations Face-Off

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On August 1, 2024

In Team Ops

(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

It’s possible this fall Golden Knights fans will openly root against their Stanley Cup winning head coach (I know I will be). On Wednesday, Bruce Cassidy was named an assistant coach of Team Canada for the upcoming 2025 4 Nations Face Off. Cassidy will join a star-studded staff led by Tampa’s head coach Jon Cooper. This will be the second time the Golden Knights head coach has been on Team Canada’s bench dating back to the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games. Canada finished 6th in the international tournament.

I am excited to welcome Bruce, Peter, Misha, Rick and James to the coaching staff for the 4 Nations Face-Off, as this is a highly skilled group of coaches that bring impressive accolades and experience at all levels of the game. I know our players will greatly benefit from this world-class coaching staff, and I look forward to working alongside all five and representing Canada in international competition in February. -Jon Cooper, Team Canada head coach

The 4 Nations Face Off is set to start in February with games being held in Boston and Toronto. Vegas’ top center Jack Eichel was invited to participate with Team USA, which will make for some fun ribbing amongst the Cup winning coach and player. However, for nine days Cassidy and Eichel will be on opposite sides of the ice. In all likelihood, so will the locker room.

You want to be confident, you want to like your chances. I think we’re going to like the group we put on the ice. With that being said, Canada, Finland and Sweden are all super competitive with great hockey players. It’s going to be very interesting and important for the teams to come together quickly, figure out what their identity is going to be and try and play that as much as they can. -Jack Eichel, Team United States

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Dallas’ Run To The Conference Finals Painful Reminder For Vegas Fans

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On May 20, 2024

In Team Ops

Photo Credit: Ken Boehlke, SinBin.vegas

Growing up in Boston I witnessed my share of shortened seasons. Historically, after a Bruins postseason exit, my father would begin rooting for the team that eliminated them from the playoffs. It was his way of coping after another failed season by the B’s. On May 5th, after the Golden Knights were eliminated I gave my son the same advice. Now, I’m dealing with a hockey-crazed eight-year-old breaking curfew in hopes that the Dallas Stars capture a Stanley Cup trophy of their own.

You get both previous Stanley Cup champions [in Vegas and Colorado]. What a gauntlet. I just couldn’t be prouder of our group… we’ve got a mix of older and younger guys, but they were just fantastic. Just hard to believe with a gauntlet like that, that you’re only halfway there. But we’re going to enjoy and need the time off here, and get ready for the next round. -Pete DeBoer, DAL coach

However, watching Dallas’ run to the Western Conference finals is truly bittersweet. Most will agree, had Vegas beaten the number one seed in Game 7, they would be looking at their fifth conference finals appearance. After the Avalanche lost a top player to another postseason distraction, the Golden Knights probably would have found their way back to the league semifinals like the Stars have.

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Cassidy’s Neutral Zone Adjustment Helped VGK Win Game 6, And Maybe Game 7 Too

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On May 5, 2024

In Game Analysis

Photo Credit: Ken Boehlke, SinBin.vegas

In most playoff series the matchup of the coaches gets overblown. Talk of adjustments, line changes, goalie decisions, motivational tactics, and so much more find their way into the ether when in reality, the better hockey team typically wins despite all of it.

When it comes to the Golden Knights and Stars first round series headed to a 7th and final game, there’s no doubt the coaching has had an impact. Bruce Cassidy’s box-and-one defending style helped Vegas grab a pair of leads and hold onto them to take control of the series. Then, Pete DeBoer’s squad adjusted their exits by using the walls more to help his defensemen get the puck out before VGK’s big bruising forecheck got into the picture.

DeBoer also deserves credit for advising his forwards to leak out of the zone even earlier than they are used to catch a Vegas defense that often overloads a side of the ice against transition chances. Dallas has hit multiple stretch passes that have sent players in on clean breakaways. (Fortunately for Vegas their goalies have shut down most of them.)

As the tide of the series shifted back from Vegas to Dallas, Cassidy had to find a way to speed his team up. The Stars were making the Golden Knights look old and stodgy by limiting their ability to carry the puck through the center of the ice. In Game 6, Cassidy presented another option to his team, it unlocked the neutral zone, and made Vegas look fast again.

They’ve done a really good job at taking away the middle of the ice. We pride ourselves in that too. So, there’s room outside. So that’s what we did. We said, ok we’ve got to get the puck outside and take the ice that’s there. You’re probably not making a lot of east-west plays in the he neutral zone and we didn’t. We took what was there for the most part. -Cassidy

Here are a couple of quick examples of exactly what he’s talking about.

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