Status Quo or No Bueno?

I’m not sure how to describe the current state of the VGK after their loss last night to yet another non-playoff team, the Winnipeg Jets, by a score of 7-3. Is it status quo and will it remain this way for the foreseeable future, considering the long list of (9) players missing? Or is their effort just not good (no bueno) enough despite the injuries?

I find myself at a loss for words after every game, trying not to repeat myself about the same results, 5 losses in a row and a lack of scoring, just 13 goals in their last 6 games. Subtract the 7 goals in the last two games and you get an even more critical situation. This problem is amplified by their goaltending woes, surrendering 23 goals in this 5-game road trip.

Coach DeBoer has preached over and over that you need to score 3 goals in a game to win in this league. This may be true, but only if you your goaltenders stop pucks at a normal frequency. Last night, the Jets dinged the VGK for 3 goals on just 12 shots, then 4 goals on 13 shots and 5 goals on 16 shots. Laurent Brossoit was starting against his former team and one might think he was juiced up to play against them. But he had a night he would like to forget, giving up 4 goals on just 13 shots before being replaced by Logan Thompson, who didn’t fare much better. One of the three goals on 10 shots against Logan was shorthanded; that goal, by Adam Lowery, closed out the scoring with 6:26 left in the game.

Vegas actually got close when Nicolas Roy scored 6:49 into the second period to trim the Winnipeg lead back to 1 goal at 2-1. The Jets scored the next 3 goals before the second period ended, sending the VGK into the locker room trailing by 4 goals.

Pietrangelo and Amadio scored in the 3rd period to make you think that maybe Vegas had some sort of magic up their sleeves. That thought was quickly extinguished when Josh Morrissey scored just 1:02 after Amadio’s goal. Then 3:01 after Morrissey’s goal with the VGK on the power-play, Lowery scored his shorthanded goal and the fat lady could be heard singing as far west as Las Vegas.

Ironically, Vegas actually played well in the first period, holding the Jets to no shots on Brossoit for the first 12:26. Then the roof fell in. The Jets took the next 7 shots, including 2 goals just 33 seconds apart. In the game against Columbus, the VGK gave up 2 goals just 30 seconds from each other. Vegas had no shots on goal for the last 9:30 of the first period.

With just 20 games, left the VGK have backed themselves into a corner. They’re technically still in the last of 2 wild-card playoff positions, but that’s only because they’ve played 4 more games than Dallas, just 1 point behind them (68 to 67). The first wild-card position belongs to Minnesota, leading Vegas 72-68 with 4 less games. So the only viable path for Vegas to make the playoffs is within their own division; they currently trail Edmonton for the last spot in the Pacific by 2 points (70-68) and Edmonton has played 2 less games. They’re 6 points behind the L.A. Kings (74-68) who have played the same number of games.

The next game for Vegas will be a test not only for the team, but for their goaltenders, who lately have let them down. The Florida Panthers are the #1 scoring team in the league, with 248 goals in 60 games (4.14 per game). They also have a +73-goal differential. The VGK average 3.15 goals per game and have a +5-goal differential.

Tomorrow’s game is followed by one against the L.A. Kings at T-Mobile on Saturday, a crucial 4-point game against a team in their division who they’re chasing. A win on Thursday is asking a lot, but get that win, then follow it up with one against L.A. on Saturday and maybe, just maybe, the team and the coaching staff will be able to take a deep breath, along with you. I know you’re baffled as to how this season has become a nightmare.

Other game notes and quotes

Vegas gave up the first goal on all 5 games of this road trip.

Winnipeg Jets player Kyle Conner must salivate when he sees the VGK on the schedule; has 10 goals in 10 games against Vegas.

The VGK have dressed 37 different players this season, a franchise record. Brayden Pachal was the newest Silver Night to play for the big club last night.

“Just didn’t get in front of enough pucks,” DeBoer said. “It’s pretty simple. I’m not a goaltending expert, but you’ve got to get in front of a couple. … I thought we battled for 60 minutes, right to the buzzer. We gave ourselves a chance right until the end, so I had no problem with our effort tonight.”

“Getting down early in games, it’s tough playing comeback hockey,” Pietrangelo said. “I think our special teams haven’t been great. If we get those two things on the same page, I think we’ll have a little bit more success. … We need a little bit more emotion right now. I mean, it’s this time of year. Leading into the playoffs, you need that emotion.”

William Karlsson said, “I’m proud that we didn’t just quit playing. We gave it a try. We managed to score two goals and make it a little bit of a game. Unfortunately, they get (it) to 6-3.”

My 3 VGK Stars of the Game: This space is left intentionally blank.

Next Game is tomorrow vs. the Florida Panthers at T-Mobile. Note the 7:30 p.m. start time.

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

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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.

Nicolas Roy goal
Pietrangelo’s PPG
Amadio goal that made it 5-3