Recap: The Golden Knights were looking to bounce back on the road with a victory in Buffalo. The Sabres opened the scoring four minutes into the contest. Vegas took seven shots on net but couldn’t find the back of the net. After one period of action the Golden Knights trailed 1-0.
It took Buffalo only :46 into the middle frame to extend the lead to two and then they scored shortly after to take a 3-0 lead. However, Vegas’ offense warmed up and scored two goals in a short span. Ivan Barbashev recorded his 18th goal of the season and 29th for Pavel Dorofeyev.
Vegas had several chances in the final frame but couldn’t even the score. They came close with a shot off the crossbar in the dying seconds, but couldn’t find the equalizer.
The Golden Knights record drops to 28-19-14 defeating the Sabres 3-2 in Buffalo. Next, Vegas will close out their road trip tomorrow night in Detroit. Puck drop against the Red Wings is scheduled for 4 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: We’re literally running out of metaphors for the same style of game over and over again. VGK fall behind, start playing better, and can’t get all the way back. They absolutely have to figure out how to limit damage early in games and they can’t seem to figure out how to do it. It’s going to continue being the story of the season unless they fix the problem. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
- McCrimmon doesn’t know why they can’t start better
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Braeden Bowman
** Pavel Dorofeyev
* Akira Schmid
vgk21
2 goals off faceffs, dmen deflecting puck into own net, 4 scoring chances miss the net, and comeback after slow start.
Hertl, Kolesar and Saad all minus 2
same ol same ol
Schmid played very well, but he had to face way too many high danger chances.
overall, a small improvement, but it ain’t horseshoes, almost is not good enough.
gotta figure out how to make every period a 3rd period.
let the trades commence.
Larry
And one of those face offs that led to a goal was after the Sabre player got kicked out of the dot, and Hertl still lost it cleanly to the secondary guy, he had a terrible night with face offs.
Let’s also be realistic, our 6-5 left a lot to be desired as it was hard to put passes together which led to several botched entries and this no real possession time in the offensive zone.
NaiveLobster
Oh man. Here we go. I love this team and I always will. But this is such a painful season to watch with so many phenomenal players on the team and seeing so many losses. Gallant got fired for way less but the difference at that time was there was another great coach available (as much as I hated that move). Cassidy would have been gone by now but who would be his replacement? There is no one available. If you can’t make these players work together for wins then it’s the coaching.
NAM
Calling for Cassidy before calling for McCrimmon is insane. This team is built like shit and all of our capital has been spent on shiny objects that didn’t even make sense for the need of the team. The depth center core that won us a cup, now isn’t even good enough to have real centers. The big name d men core is average at best. Not only that, but because of the structure of most contracts, and again no capital, there is not a damn thing we can do about it. What recycled coach are we pulling in after firing Cassidy?
Henderson One
We have seen this play before. Looks like Bruce Cassidy should plan to have a taxi near by if he cannot motivate this Over the Hill gang.
knights fan in minny
Vegas on the Trade Board Cole Smith from the Nashville Predators to Las Vegas we’re coming we’re coming
Jay
Wow, I can barely tell if the needle moved. I think a different pregame energy drink may have a bigger impact!
trade
Vgk acquire Cole Smith from Nashville for a 3rd round pick in ’28
Smith is a bottom 6 grinder, 6 foot 3
knights fan in minny
Hopefully they dump saad Keep Reinhard in there he plays a good game
trade
I agree, Minny
Emmanuel
(Sigh)
knights fan in minny
What’s the problem
Emmanuel
The Blues were desperately fighting for a playoff spot last season yet waived Saad. Did the FO think this guy had anything left?
So many scrubs in the bottom six…… just venting man!
Larry
Emm, you are preaching to the choir ( in this case me) about and concerning anything Saad!!
SHS
Minny, based on the Time On Ice from tonight, I think that will be the plan. Saad had the lowest minutes of any Forward, including Lavoie.
leonard wise
I think the cab should be waiting for Mc Idiot. Schmid is our best goalie right now, he played well. I think overall the team played better tonight. But they tend to try harder against Buffalo, Toronto because of Marner and Eichel. Who feels good about Hill tomorrow?
JB
Is this Cole Smith physical or what kind of player?
knights fan in minny
I would guess that’s what they got him for
trade
he has about 65 pim per season, and has 736 hits the last 4 seasons.
so yes, he gets involved.
Emmanuel
Last 4 seasons Relative Corsi:
-9.2 22/23
-12.8. 23/24
-10.9. 24/25
-10.5 25/26
No information found on whether PIM are 2 min minors or fighting majors.
Emmanuel
13 2 minute minors this season.
JB
Just checked hockey fights. He’s been in quite a few!
trade
apparently the FO is reading this board, and the rightful demands for more grit and sandpaper.
TS
Mgmt has been hearing it from fans for years now:: gotta be more physical, gotta stop being the soft target!!
leonard wise
Yawn, another embarrassment for Mc Idiot. The coach said we need more scoring from our bottom six. This will really move the needle. I guess he sees the cab on the way.
Larry
The walls are closing in on our VGK, teams that have no business being near to us are starting to breathe down our neck, I could have accepted tonight’s mixed results elsewhere but when the $&()? oilers came back to win tonight, it made the night a really bad one.
SHS
Larry, at least the Ducks lost…
Pistol Pete
I want to say regarding my responses yesterday to the negative posts, Ken did the right thing by not deleting them. To term them “attacks” is an exaggeration. They were merely reactions by a positive fan to what were clearly unreasonable statements. Of course people are free to post what they want but by the same token if somebody thinks they are unreasonable they are entitled to react. I did go too far in terming the zero “a big fat one”. I can see now that can be taken the wrong way my bad. Again, my apologies to Walt and hdbiker.
Ok let’s begin to right the ship and beat the Red Wings on this B2B another good team. I knew this road trip would be a challenge coming out of the Olympics and said as much before it began and it won’t get any easier coming home to face the Wild and Oilers. I too wish this team could score more in period one.
TS
Pp, you are a passionate fan, an unwavering supporter of our team. Not everyone is as positive. Frustration is there. Can’t deny it, can’t erase it, and we can’t blame others for being negative at this point. You are an eternal optimist, but most of us are more realistic, including me. I realize we may not even make the Playoffs, and EVERY team has down years. And that’s OK..
IT IS THE WAY.
hdbiker7851
TS = another realist – They won the CUP and haven’t had as good a team since. In the GM’s wisdom or lack thereof to try and make the team better than the one that won he has dismantled it in one way or another with every trade or signing since. The extension to Hill sticks out huge as a total waste of $$$$$$. No reason to add more as a realist I realize you know what I am getting at. I admire PP optimism which he equates to being a bigger Fan of the Knights than those who criticize their lousy performance which is not the case. It’s just another perspective hoping they can clean up their act. Unless something drastically changes soon the PO will not be in the picture – that’s realism. While losing to Buffalo was an improvement over the 5 zip lose Sunday the result was the same. Maybe tonight will be different – we can only hope. They certainly are not playing up to their capacity.
Larry
Andersson and Saad for Marchessault!! Lol
FG
Why do VGK keep taking castoffs from one of the worst teams in the league?
JB
Thinking about not even watching the first period tonight? Can’t bear watching them go down by two goals again!,
NAM
I was watching DAL vs CGY last night. They flashed up a graphic about Whitecloud. I don’t remember exact stats, but since he has played there he leads the team in time on ice with like 23+ min a game. Leads them in +/-, block shots, and a couple of other interesting categories. I wish I paid more attention, but was just loosely watching the game. Calgary is a hot mess, but it is interesting that he clearly became something key on their team. I don’t mind Andersson in general, he is a quality player, but he cost a lot and didn’t make this team better at all and really wasn’t a need.
Larry
NAM, personally I do mind Andersson in general, it’s certainly debatable as if he is a quality player ( Swedish Olympic coach might agree), he DEFINITELY did cost a lot, AND certainly was not a need, but beside all that I’m a big backer of him … NOT!!!
knights fan in minny
The rumors are getting fun Elliot Friedman thinks Vegas is In on Bingington
NAM
As long as they are willing to take some office furniture or maybe even an office assistant or member of the training staff, because Vegas is out of trade assests.