After 80 games, the VGK somehow haven’t been eliminated from qualifying for the playoffs, which is somewhat of a miracle considering how this season has played out. But it’s just a matter of time before it becomes official, as Vegas once again didn’t win a must-win game, losing once again in overtime by a score of 3-2. They now trail Dallas by 4 points with just two games left in the season. Vegas must win both of their remaining games while Dallas has to lose both of their remaining games in regulation.
Is it possible? Yes. Is it likely? No.
So I ask: Where exactly did the season go sideways on the VGK? It’s a question that has many correct answers.
In my opinion, the door to the playoffs was wide open for the VGK even just 72 hours ago, when they played the San Jose Sharks, a team going nowhere. They led by 2 goals with just over 2 minutes to go. But when Chandler Stephenson and William Carrier are your two best offensive forwards in the last 2 critical games, that’s problem # 1. Don’t misconstrue what I’m saying here; if the VGK had 18 players like Chandler Stephenson and William Carrier, they wouldn’t be hanging on by a thread for a playoff spot. Chandler Stephenson scored for the 4th straight game, including 2 PPG, the power play being another reason you could point to for the season going sideways. William Carrier scored for the 2nd game in a row since returning from an injury that kept him out of the lineup for 10 games.
The VGK roster is $10.5 million over the salary cap of $81.5 million. You wouldn’t be wrong to expect the players at the top of the food chain to be contributing more to the offense than Chandler Stephenson; 9 players make more than his $2.75 million salary, while 12 players who make more than Carrier’s $1.4 million. The offense simply cannot afford to rely on these two players to win games.
Problem #2 is the failure to pick up the additional point in the last 2 shootouts. Had they did so, the almost insurmountable 4-point Dallas lead would be a very manageable 1-point lead. If they held onto their 1- goal lead 2 different times last night, they’d be tied with Dallas and own the tiebreaker; they could just win their last 2 games to control their own playoff destiny.
But in the last 2 shootouts, the VGK have gone 0-10. Yes, not one shootout goal in 10 attempts. Last night, Jake Eichel, Shea Theodore, Nicolas Roy, Chandler Stephenson, Jonathan Marchessault, and Evgenii Dadonov all had a chance to end the game on their sticks. William Karlsson could have kept the shootout going if he could’ve just found the back of the net. Roy, Eichel, and Theodore all missed on Sunday in the shootout against San Jose as well.
Here’s the icing on the sideways cake. The VGK make the opposing goaltenders look like Vezina Trophy winners’ night after night. Keep in mind that the Dallas Stars were playing the 3rd string goaltender last night, as injuries have sidelined the #1 and #2 goaltenders. Dallas’ 3rd string goaltender Jake Ottinger stopped 33 of the 35 shots he faced. Not to be overlooked was Logan Thompson, who stopped 28 of the 30 shots he faced along with stopping 8 of the 10 shots he faced in the shootout in the last 2 games. Logan Thompson is not the problem, that’s for sure; he’s actually saved the season so far, even though it seems the VGK are hellbent to miss the playoffs.
Other Game Notes and Quotes
“Thompson’s been a warrior for us,” Mark Stone said. “First-year goalie put into a tough situation, three starts before becoming our starting goalie for the toughest stretch of hockey of the season. All the props to him, he’s given us a chance to win every night. It looks like he has a bright future ahead of him. He’s definitely not the reason we’re in this situation. He’s battled for us night in and night out.”
“I thought our guys left everything on the ice tonight,” Pete DeBoer said. “We’ve got a lot of guys playing banged up and they gave us what they had. We’ve still got a pulse. We’re not eliminated. I’m proud of our group. I thought we came in and played a heck of a road game. Got the lead and were up again. Had some chances to win the game that we just didn’t finish on.”
Jack Eichel had a game-high 6 hits for the VGK, not his normal style of play. I think Jack may have been a bit frustrated last night, as he came here to Vegas thinking he was going to be playing in the playoffs for the first time in his career, and now it appears that he’ll be suffering the same fate as he had to endure in Buffalo his entire time in the NHL.
My 3 Stars of the game: Chandler Stephenson (1 PPG and 5 SOG), William Carrier (1G, 3 SOG), Logan Thompson (28 saves on 30 shots for a .933 save percentage)
Next game is today vs. Chicago Blackhawks at 5:30 p.m. Pacific 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
For more VGK content, check out the Hockey Knights in Vegas Podcast that can be found at this link or on my Facebook page.
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.
Carrier opens the scoring
Thompson stops a breakaway
Stephenson’s PPG with two seconds left in the second
The goal that might have ended the VGK season
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Drew Thrasher wrote this
Got that one right, it’s all on the offense, same thing ever since pdb came in, with all that talent there’s no way we should be getting owned in the shoot outs
Phil Miranda said this is where the season went sideways
Trading FLOWER…HIRING THE COACH
Phil Miranda that could be another reason that I didn’t mention. The karma with the team has changed that’s for sure.
Joe P.
Karma? Seriously Joe.
Judy Kemnitz responded to Phil’s reason
Phil Miranda Thompson did very good, the coaching not so good!! I liked Flower to, but he will not come back because they did him very very wrong!! Like shit, I think!!
Judy that in fact is true they did Flower wrong and that may be the only reason he will never return here. It would be a perfect ending to his illustrious career but as they say that shipped has sailed.
Joe P.
Dwayne Castellarin differs with my opinion on the perfect ending to Flowers career.
Joe Pane no perfect end to his career is one last suit up for Pittsburgh and retire.
Dwayne Castellarin Ok maybe the 2nd perfect ending to his career. 🙂
Joe P.
You constantly have said it all thanks it’s been fun!! Still 2 games!🤞🏾🤞🏾🖤🧡🇨🇦🍁#goKnightsgo#
Judy
I like your tenacity never give up, you just never know win these last 2 games and hope Arizona helps out tonight.
Joe P.
I guess it’s over for now. Can’t wait until fall To see what happens!!🏒🥅🍁🧡🖤🇨🇦❤️#goKnightsgo#
Christopher Couch has this reason
The VGK season has been sideways from the start. They have looked a drift car that somehow stays on the track after hitting the walls in every turn.
Christopher Couch I like that analogy. It’s so true.
Joe P.
Tony Worsley believes it went sideways with
Jack Eichel!
Tony taking him on but them deep in Cap trouble, but I don’t think he has hurt the team at all.
Joe P.
Tony Worsley responded to my comment about Eichel
Joe Pane He isn’t a leader. The team’s intensity dropped way off after his arrival.
Tony Worsley ok fair enough, not sure I agree as he has made the power-play better, but it was so bad anything or anyone who could pass the puck would have helped.
Joe P.
Nicholas Roop responded
Joe Pane it was that at that point the roster was never whole and the never gelled it was too late. But who knows it might not have anyway?
Drew Thrasher on Eichel contributing to the offense
Joe Pane, he carried the offense last month
Drew Thrasher, he did but the last few games he has been invisible.
Joe P.
Drew Thrasher responding to my comments on Eichel
Joe Pane yeah, we got everyone back, that’s on pdb for not making adjustments
Tony Worsley on my comment on Eichel helping the power-play
Joe Pane, I do agree with that!
Nicholas Roop offered his opinion to my question
2nd game of the season.
Nicholas Roop, it has been all downhill from there. But it was so early you always thought they would recover in time. But here we are with just 2 games to go and there isn’t much hope now.
Joe P.
Nicholas Roop this I agree with we will never know. Maybe next season will be a true test of his value one way or another or we may find out it’s just not a good fit. My feeling is that with a full healthy roster he is a good addition to the team. We shall see.
Joe P.
Nicholas Roop responded
Joe Pane it was that at that point the roster was never whole and the never gelled it was too late. But who knows it might not have anyway?
Vickie Webb had this opinion
Totally agree!!! I know we have had more than our share of injuries but if you look back on not just the last two games but the ones in the last few weeks when players came back from injury, in most of those games we had plenty of chances to win and not put ourselves in this situation. Dallas was losing but we couldn’t win so the points weren’t there. High priced players don’t always mean better, a team that plays together as a cohesive unit is what does it, all you have to do look at our first year when no one gave us a chance!
Stanley Berg has this opinion on where it went sideways
When they traded Fleury and didn’t even tell him. It’s called chemistry
Stanley Berg, I concur. Their PR leaves a lot to be desired. When they traded Oscar Lindberg, they had William Karlsson tell him. How is this even possible that another player tells a player he was traded. I have spoken with Lindberg he speaks and understands the English language.
Joe P.
Stanley Berg responded to my comments.
Joe Pane living in Boston for over 50 years when the heart is cut out sometimes the replacement fails and although he might not be a 70 game a year goalie, he was a big-time goalie if he was rested, he could carry you thru the 4 series he did it in year one he carried that team and made hockey in the valley
Johnny Lawless has this opinion on where it went sideways
By the numbers it went downhill beginning with Eichel’s return. 14-14-4 since his return. Not saying it is him specifically as it could have just been the disruption to the team and cap consequences or other intangibles. But clearly February 16, 2022, marks VGK’s plummet in the standings from 2d place in the Pacific (28-17-3) to the current situation.
Antonio C Amante offered his opinion.
Mistake by getting rid of Fleury
Dave Campoverde added his opinion
Power play has been very bad the last couple of years. We’re good enough to keep the score close and within reach if we’re behind. The man advantage is no advantage to us. Unless we’re pulling the goalie in a desperate attempt to tie the game. Why that hasn’t been addressed and the coach that handles that not fired is beyond me. I personally don’t like how Pete DeBore came on the team and created a goalie controversy. I just don’t think there’s a good atmosphere in that locker room. Some good players are going to be blamed for poor coaching and management decisions. It’s going to be a tough time from here on out. 🤦🏻♂️
Kristi Scott Smith has this opinion
The Chicago game when a goalie to remain nameless returned
Kristi Scott Smith how true is this. I also believed the VGK players wanted Fleury to win that game. Just my opinion I don’t know for sure, but it appeared that way.
Joe P.
Kristi Scott Smith responded
Joe Pane we were on a heater and playing with confidence and then season went up and mostly down from there…. even with the injuries we played some great hockey in December
Kristi Scott Smith also added this to the conversation
Joe Pane, I think everyone but Ben Hutton, my wife and I wanted him to win
Joe,
A long time ago (mid-70s) and in a place far, far away (NJ), my uncle had season tickets to the NYR. Many a good memory of hopping on the train to MSG and learning all about the game of hockey. (I still dislike the Flyers!!!) Then a move out West and life taking over, then Las Vegas has a hockey team! Reno is only 450 miles from T-Mobile arena and our first game was in the inaugural season when the Knights clinched the Pacific Division. What a story book first year!
But to your question: where exactly did the season go sideways??? So just my two cents:
Fire the coach who took a team to the SCF in their expansion year? Oh, he is in the playoffs this year. With Reavo, who knows how to hit and keep order on the ice.
Trade the goalie who won the Vezina trophy for nothing. Not to mention that he was loved by team and fans alike…..part of that undefinable chemistry that keeps being mentioned. Oh, he is in the playoffs this year.
As a previous poster stated a few days ago, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. But this GM gets excited by shiny players. Can Eichel contribute to this team. Sure. But was it worth the disruption of going 10 million over the salary cap? NO.
So once again I will put this whole cluster f___ on the shoulders of the GM.
At least I can cheer on the Rangers in the playoffs……….
Gene
I share in your good memories of going to MSG since my dad took me to my first game when I was 9 years old. I have been hooked on hockey and the NY Rangers ever since. Our paths are similar except I moved to Las Vegas in 2000. I would go back to NY City once or twice a year and hockey was always the reason, even if I told my family I came back because I was missing them (la famiglia). They knew but were happy to see me, nevertheless. I also still hate the Flyers, Islanders and the Devils my dislike is deeper than yours. Yes, Gallant has the NY Rangers firing on all cylinders while the VGK are going sideways as I pointed out. I asked where everyone thought it happened as there is so many possibilities. Is it all PDB fault or is it all of the injuries or is it the specialty teams pretty much laying an egg this year? It may be in fact a little of all of the above not to mention playing down to their opponents many nights and insisting on shooting shots from the permitter and avoiding the blue paint like it was soft ice. Things that will make any goaltender look like a Vezina trophy winner.
Joe P.
Bryan Sandrock wrote this
Power play… Like I said before it was the reason that they failed to make the Stanley Cup playoffs last year and it would be the reason they wouldn’t make the playoffs this year… So that is why I have a listed number one but there was a long list only a part of which is below, and the rest is not listed in a particular order. 
Continually almost never having a player opposite net side from the play so pucks can be passed and shot at a partially open net instead of right at the large human being with very little opportunity windows (requiring consistent sniper precision)
First time I’ve said this… a coach who isn’t PROUD? of his players (esp the highly paid ones) who have now consistently failed to do their jobs. BE PISSED and EXPECT MORE! their past proven skills demands the coach show them respect but it doesn’t mean that you treat them with kid gloves. Not everyone is afflicted with “woe is me” mental issues…most professional athletes will rise to the occasion when pressed. And those that can’t, need to go.
Shooters need to change things up in the shootout… when we all first saw Shea’s and Roy’s fake and opposite shot we were all saying wow… now that every goalkeeper in the league knows exactly what they are going to do in shootout, the odds of scoring plummet. Just a fact.
Send two to the offensive boards and leave one forward in shooting position up close…don’t rely on passing it back to defensive at blue line only to watch them shoot a long shot directly at a goalie with no distractions. And, in so doing, eliminate the momentum that we building as they go to a face off.
Get more shots from defensemen for rebounds and have offensive players crashing net to deal with rebounds.
Oh shit… I could go on.
Bryan Sandrock well said, and you hit on almost everything that has taken this team sideways. Crashing the net in my opinion is the major flaw. Most if not all goaltenders at this level will stop shots from 60 feet away that are not redirected or have traffic in front of them, so their vision is limited.
Joe P.
Bryan Sandrock responded to my comments.
Joe Pane maybe we should put ourselves out there for coaching material… Ha ha… I think of it a lot like soccer where the left winger just ran 60 yards at full speed and passed to the center only to not have the center forward where he is supposed to be. How many times does Chandler or Carrier have to go behind the net and pass the puck into the sweet spot in front of the net only to have the puck wander aimlessly and safely away because the players don’t rush the net expecting the pass
Bryan Sandrock more times than I want to recall sadly.
Joe P.
Robert Franco wrote
0-10 in the last 10 attempts at shootouts with the playoffs on the line is unacceptable. This is where you need an Alec Tuch. We need a major overhaul from the top down. Power play is weak, defense is weak, goaltending is weak, coaching is weak. This team really believes show up and they can win. The hunger is gone and missing the playoffs might just fix their complacency in 2022/23.
Michelle Edmonds wrote
Such a disappointing end to the season😢
Damien Garrett believes this is the problem
Line changes every five minutes during a game.
Antonio C Amante sent this reason in
Mistake by getting rid of Fleury
Marie Archuletta-Nabit believes this is when it went sideways
When did it start when they let flower go the dishonesty from Foley has showed his disrespect and that he is not a man of his word, the upper management dismantled the team, The players loved playing with MAF. And Robin Lehner was a disruption from the beginning always chirping about how unfair life making comments on Twitter! 
The team had no captain for half the season no leader, The heavy hitters were injured most of the season and trying to get elite players putting them against Cap hell ! So many things are to blame but mostly it was the upper management making poor choices and Pete Debour constantly changing the lines never letting anyone really jell ,  there is going to be some chirping going on sit tight in your seat Robin Lehner is not a person that keeps his mouth shut he’s a drama he’s angry about what happened the decision to pull him did not come from DeBour it came from upper management and Debour never knew anything. For me I think this team needs a fresh start to prepare for the next season that being said Kelly McCrimmon needs to go as well as Robin Lehner! I hope they groom Logan Thompson to be an outstanding goal tender he’s already there❤️
Marie Archuletta-Nabit also added this
And sadly, we are going to lose players again because of the poor choices of upper management so they can get below the cap, The misfits are no more we’re just another average hockey team! 
Jim Baxter things this it when it happened
Started when they brought in pdb!!
Dave Barnhill had this to say
I’m going to say the season went sideways when they unceremoniously dumped Marc-Andre Fleury and expected Lehner to take us to the promised land! And then the injuries started to happen…
Joe Pellissier added this
I agree, the Fleury issue was the downfall. I think other players saw how management dealt with a star player and they can’t help but think what would they do to me? They are professionals and have to deal with trades, salary cap implications, etc, but the way he was let go especially after winning the Vesna trophy last year had to be a punch in the midsection for all.
Brian Mishefske sent his opinion in what happened to the VGK
We have 4 players that take up over 30% of our cap space! Not one of these four play at the level of salary. We traded away young talented players for pricey veterans to win a Cup and this year it bit ownership in the ass and wallet. Easy to blame the coach but I’ll say it again I don’t like him. We have salary cap issues for a few more years than maybe we can draft and rebuild. Best part of the whole year was watching Roy grow into his potential and Thompson. I’m not disappointed but you can’t buy cups or wins.
Josh Nilson sent this opinion in
0-10 pt road trip and not being able to put away bottom feeder clubs for easy points
Da Mo wrote
Easy… when they fired Gallant.
Jason Eubanks responded to Da Mo
Da Mo The players wanted him gone, since when do the fans get to tell the players what they want?
Da Mo responded to Jason
Jason Eubanks never heard that sentiment expressed. Not saying it isn’t accurate. I’ve just never heard that before.
Jason Eubanks responded to Da Mo
Da Mo They went from obviously not putting in any effort while their playoff chances were spiraling out of control to finishing 15-5-2 once DeBoer came on. We already know Florida fired him mid-season too and we know the guy is a yeller rather than a motivator. Those guys famously lose their teams after a while.
Jason like Da Mo I never heard that about Gallant from the players.
Joe P.
J.R. Medenwaldt added this to the conversation about Gallant
Da Mo Gallant had lost the locker room. And he’ll lose it in NY. His style is only good for a couple seasons.
Craig Canter sent this comment in
You can bet the house that they’re gonna win tonight and you can bet the house that the flyers are gonna lose tonight.
Craig not sure how the Flyers got into this conversation unless you are giving us your 2 best hockey bets for tonight.
Joe P.
Donna Rae wrote this
I can’t watch the games anymore, it’s too depressing. I just wait it out and read your article.
Sure, Donna let me the bearer of ugly news. Well, it’s not easy doing this but if that’s what it is, then I will continue to save you the agony of watching it as it happens.
Joe P.