The Golden Knights' two-game road trip ended Saturday with a 2-1 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team with the fewest points in the Eastern Conference, capping what the Review-Journal called the lowest point of the season so far. Vegas has now lost three straight games and scored just three goals on the trip, five total during the skid, despite outshooting opponents and generating chances against stellar goaltending from Joel Hofer in St. Louis and 39-year-old Cam Talbot in Columbus.
Coach Ryan Craig emphasized maintaining perspective. "It's a mindset that you're going to continue to push and grow," Craig said. "We have a really mature group here that way, in the sense of they take responsibility." The penalty kill has allowed a power-play goal in five consecutive games, including Adam Fantilli's overtime winner on a four-on-three Saturday, though Craig noted the unit was effective during regulation against Columbus.
Defenseman Noah Hanifin felt the team defended well as a five-man unit and limited high-danger chances, but acknowledged the offense needs to improve at wearing teams down in the offensive zone. Carter Hart kept Vegas in the game with key second-period saves, and Tomas Hertl tied it late in the third after his line crashed the net, but the Knights couldn't solve Talbot, who made highlight-reel stops on Trevor Connelly and Jack Eichel.
The Knights were without star winger Mitch Marner for both road games, but the Review-Journal noted the roster still had more than enough talent to produce. The schedule doesn't ease up: Vegas returns home to face the surging Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, followed by the New Jersey Devils on Friday, who may debut newly acquired goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. With 71 games remaining, the Knights have ample time to correct course.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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