‘Not good enough’: Knights fell victim to Blues’ quick responses

The Golden Knights fell 6-2 to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, dropping a second consecutive game by the same score as defensive breakdowns and turnovers continued to plague the team. Vegas twice cut the deficit to one goal, only for St. Louis to answer within minutes and restore a two-goal cushion each time.

Brett Howden made it 2-1 early in the second period, but Mason McTavish responded less than three minutes later to push the lead back to two. Jack Eichel's backdoor pass deflected off Cam Fowler's skate to make it 3-2 early in the third, yet the Blues struck again four minutes later on Jimmy Snuggerud's wrist shot that goaltender Adin Hill misplayed. Dylan Holloway added another goal two minutes later after Hill and Nic Dowd collided.

The penalty kill surrendered two power-play goals and has allowed at least one in four straight games. Defenseman Brayden McNabb called the effort "not good enough" and said the team was "not ready to start." Coach Ryan Craig described the group's decision-making as "in between" and emphasized the need to close better in the neutral and defensive zones.

Eichel and McNabb both credited Hill with keeping the game close, noting he made at least four high-danger saves. Eichel said the solution is to simplify their game, a familiar refrain when the Knights have struggled. Vegas will look to reset Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal