“Willingness To Defend Has Gone Up A Lot”

As great as it has been that the Golden Knights are back to stacking points and wins, what’s even better is that they are starting to figure out the correct style of hockey that will allow them to go on another deep playoff run.

Despite starting out the season red-hot offensively, and picking back up with a bundle of scoring right after the break, the Golden Knights are at their best when they are locked in defensively. For this team to match up against the best teams in the West, a few of whom improved their rosters significantly at the Trade Deadline, it’ll be by stymying them offensively rather than outscoring them.

Our value to defend was good all night. That’s what it’s going to take for us. That’s our identity and when we’re at our best. I think we have enough scoring in our room so we’ll be ok there. The willingness to defend has gone up a lot. -Bruce Cassidy

It hasn’t been perfect in the eight games since returning from the break, but there have been plenty of defensive efforts worthy of praise. Last night’s game in Pittsburgh showed the importance of keeping the third goal out of the net as it gave time (just barely enough) to get the tying goal and earn VGK a point. The shutouts against New Jersey and Pittsburgh at home were both masterpieces in defense. And the Vancouver game coming out of the break plus the Toronto matchup at home makes five games out of eight in which Vegas have allowed two or fewer in regulation.

We’ve been working at being who we think gives us the best chance to win, hard to play against, competitive, balanced scoring, score different ways, win different ways, and you are starting to see more of that now in the win column. -Cassidy

As the schedule heads towards the games that really matter, it’s crucial VGK get their game in order not just by getting wins, but doing it in way that will win in the playoffs.

In March, it’s important to get your act together, play well, and be who you are by playing to your identity. -Cassidy

That’s a far cry from what was happening before the break.

We’ve turned a corner from January and February, although I still say those months weren’t poor, the results just weren’t as good. Good for the guys for hanging in there. They didn’t get away from it. When you play well and lose or don’t play the full 60, you can have a tendency to maybe go your own way and credit to the guys that they haven’t and they’ve stuck with how we want to play. -Cassidy

As the road trip continues, the Golden Knights will face a trio of unique offenses in Columbus, Buffalo, and Detroit. Committing to defending is the answer to this team’s success not just in these next three games, but the rest of the year. Defense wins division championships, defense wins Western Conferences, and defense wins Cups.