The last-place VGK — yes, the pre-season favorites to dominate the Pacific Division who now sit at bottom of the division — aren’t helping themselves with their continuous defensive and neutral-zone turnovers. Those resulted in Edmonton’s 5-3 win at T-Mobile last night.
Vegas has now lost 3 games in a row and their only victory was against the Seattle Krakens, who’d never played a game in the NHL prior to opening night on October 12.
After Wednesday’s game vs. St Louis, Coach DeBoer said you need to score at least 3 goals if you are going to win an NHL game. Well, last night VGK did score 3 goals; they’ve actually scored first in all 4 of their games so far this season. Scoring first is a huge theoretical advantage in the NHL: Teams that score first during the regular season win 68.8% of the games on average.
Still, Vegas has lost 3 of 4. They even had the lead in last night’s game twice. Nic Roy opened the scoring 3:34 into the first and then Nolan Patrick scored 1:25 into the second period to regain the lead by tipping Dylan Coghlan slap shot from the point for the 2-1 VGK lead. Unfortunately, Edmonton scored 2 goals just 1:12 apart to retake the lead again.
The power play continues to struggle and is 0-9 so far this season. Yes, I know that 4 players who are normally on the power play are injured. But these same 4 players were in the playoffs last season and even then, they struggled.
So the magic number of 3 goals for the VGK normally is more than enough, considering the defensive prowess of the team over the last 4 seasons. But this season, the turnovers and giveaways are happening way more than they should.
Wednesday night, the VGK’s best defensive player gave away the puck that led to a 3-on-0 for the game winner. Last night, Nic Hague, who scored a momentum-changing goal that tied the game at 3-3, gave away the puck on a dangerous cross-ice pass in the neutral zone, allowing Zach Kassian to skate in alone on Lehner. Kassian drew the puck right to left, forcing Lehner to open his pads. Kassian slipped the puck through Lehner’s 5 hole for the game-winning goal and in the process clearly diminished any momentum that Vegas had gained from Hague’s goal 2:07 into the 3rd period.
Once again, this is not to shine a light on Lehner who has
played well, considering his current record of 1-3 and giving up 13 goals in just 4 games. If you haven’t watched, he has been left out to dry by his defensemen and forwards.
Vegas even had a lengthy 5-on-3 power play, but Edmonton had the best scoring chance when they were short-handed by 2 players.
Speaking of shorthanded, the VGK started without Alec Martinez, who left Wednesday’s game against St. Louis when he was tripped up, went shoulder first into the boards, and hasn’t returned.
The infirmary list grows even longer, as Zach Whitecloud left the game 5 minutes into the second period and did not return. The normally tight-lipped Coach DeBoer shared with the media post-game that Whitecloud’s injury didn’t look good. Just hearing him say that is troublesome. We’re so used to hearing he has no update and the player will be evaluated in the morning.
The depth of the VGK is being tested in a big way just 4 games into an 82-game season. Injuries are part of the game, but having possibly 5 key players not available anytime soon is a scary thought.
My 4 Stars of the Game: Leon Draisati (2G, 1A, 7SOG), Zach Hyman (2G), Connor McDavid (2A on both Edmonton goals that tied the game after Vegas took the lead), Zack Kassian (GWG)
Things will not be any easier against the NY Islanders tomorrow at 7 p.m. The Islanders are a very defensive-minded team and with Vegas having scoring problems, the next game isn’t looking promising for the home team to snap out of this 3-game losing streak.
Your comments and opinions are welcome here at Las Vegas Advisor or you may contact me directly at [email protected] or on my Facebook page or the Facebook page of Vegas Hockey Guy or on Twitter @TheRealJoePane
One other note: If you’re reading this blog from Facebook or Twitter and would like to access it earlier in the morning before I share it on social media, it’s usually published by 8 a.m. the morning after a game on LasVegasAdvisor.com. What better way is there to enjoy your morning coffee than reading my take on last night’s VGK game.
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Hagle Patricia wrote this
Thanks for the update !
Johnny Lawless sent this comment in
I think 0-27 on power plays going back to last season.
Hague’s goal was the lone offensive highlight – not to diminish tip-in goals but relying on them for offense will get us no where.
could be a long season defensively if we keep giving up breakaways on Lehner – hard for any goalie but a particular weakness for him
Johnny Lawless I know it’s not good, plus we know his record in shootouts its the worst in the league.
Joe P
Roberta Lubin responded to Johnny Lawless
Johnny Lawless we still have the same PP coach, why??!! Also, I think play will tighten up when our best goal scorers get beck 🤦♀️ I think this year will not be good, so many bad moves over the last few years. And now injuries
Michael J Pisciotta added this related or not comment
I like apple turnovers
Michael J Pisciotta even if you were to add in a bowl of ice cream that will still not get you the Stanley Cup.
Joe P.
Judy Billman Grech responded to Michael
Michael J Pisciotta This team has lost chemistry. The no scoring and bad PP has reared it’s ugly head for the past 2 seasons, wtf ? The D score more than the Offence. They will have to score 4/5/6 goals a game to win and I can’t see this happening. I hope upon hope I am wrong.
Kevin Logan asked this question
Great article. If last season is a repeat this season as far as PP, why did they decide to keep same PP coaches? It’s just not working.
Kevin Logan the power play coach, Steve Spott is one of Coach DeBoer’s crew brought over from San Jose. So if Spott is removed it’s going to have to come from above DeBoer. My guess is the screws are getting snug around Spott’s neck
Joe P.
Kevin Logan responded to my comment
Joe Pane Time for a change.
Kevin Logan if the power play woes continue you are SPOT ON 😂
Joe P.
In the third period I saw a VGK player with the name “Turnover” on the back his sweater. Which number? Anyone but “90”. I miss the north-south hockey. Now it´s not even east-west. It´s like elevator hockey, first we reach the first floor then it´s down to the cellar. In a few moments the elevator move upwards, but no, we´re still down with the guy with horns in his forehead. The guy thinks “they´ve got Janmark back, I got to make it even so I get Whitecloud injured instead”. The Cup is going elsewhere this season!
Thanks for the update Joe. Best VGK site by far. Can´t find you on Youtube.
Thank you Kenneth all the way from Stockholm. Yes there are a number of problems that need to be addressed sooner than later if there is any chance of making a deep run for the Stanley Cup.
You can find my podcast that I do with Eddie Rivkin on YouTube
Hockey Knights In Vegas
Here is a link to some of our previous podcast. We are scheduled to record the first one for this season on Monday following the NY Islander game
https://www.youtube.com/c/HockeyKnightsinVegas
Joe P.
Thank´s. I thought I´ve missed some podcast´s. I´ve seem them all from the last season. You and Eddie don´t interrupt each other. Respect! Best of all, there are no haters here. Other sites has no fans that communicate or they are full of haters. They hate Lehner or the fans who have a different opinion than themselves. The lack of hockey knowledge is the main reason to stay away from them.
Harry Hendricks asked this question
Will they ever win again?
Harry Hendricks It’s safe to say they will eventually get back on track the question really is will it be in time to salvage the season.
Joe P.