Golden Knights Postgame: Goals Hard to Come By, VGK Out Three Defensemen

The Vegas Golden Knights did a good job keeping up with the pace of the NHL's top team, the Boston Bruins. But without Jack Eichel, Shea Theodore, and Alex Pietrangelo, they were unable to score more than one goal and lost 3-1. Both goalies were great, but Linus Ullmark and the Bruins walked away with the victory, wrapping up the season series against the VGK.

Golden Knights Takeaways

Beat By the Best

There is a reason why the Bruins are the top team in the NHL. Their depth, ability to play with one another, and goaltending were on display in their win. The Golden Knights skated with the B's, but without three of their top players, were simply outclassed Sunday night.

"Our compete level was high from start to finish. We were ready to play. When you get in those types of games with a team as good as Boston with all the depth they have, the margins become slimmer when you're missing some of your guys that are difference makers," said head coach Bruce Cassidy.

The Bruins move to 45 points on the season and remain in first place in the NHL. Without Eichel, Pietrangelo, and Theodore, the Golden Knights seem just a step off from the current top teams in the league such as the Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New Jersey Devils.

"Guys can feel good about their effort. They're competing against a good hockey club. That said, when you lose there are no more victories," said Cassidy.

Home Cooking

The Golden Knights scored just one regulation goal in their last three home games. For whatever reason, the team cannot generate offense at T-Mobile Arena. The chances were there, with Ben Hutton, Will Carrier, and William Karlsson all getting chances, but the goals were not.

"There's still a grip on the stick a little tight. Sometimes when you lose guys, you start to play a little bit more passive. I think we have got to get back to that aggressive style of our D-pinching and keeping plays alive because our forecheck has been there," said captain Mark Stone.

The Golden Knight's only goal of the night came in the first period on the powerplay from Stone.

"I think five-on-five, we didn't generate enough. I thought we had some pretty good chances early on in the third. We got a few looks but not enough high-danger chances… Five and five, we need to score more goals," said Stone.

Head coach Cassidy says he wants to see a more simple approach from the VGK's offense and for them to generate more Shots Shots Shots.

"I think we need a bit more of a shooter's mentality when you're not scoring. Sometimes our team goes the other way, they want to make a really nice play. So we have to find a balance there because I think this is a good offensive group. They've scored in general this year a lot. So we don't want to take away their creativity. But sometimes you just got to get back to scoring on the second and third chances," said Cassidy.

Down Defense

To make matters worse for the Golden Knights, defenseman Zach Whitecloud left the game with an injury and did not return.

Taylor Hall fell on Whitecloud's left leg, moving it out of position. Nicolas Roy and William Karlsson had to assist Whitecloud to the bench, where coach Cassidy described the injury as something that  "Didn't look good from the bench." More updates will be available tomorrow.

Without Whitecloud, the Golden Knights were down to five defensemen but stuck through it and battled.

"We were kind of playing Bingo back there with the partners. At the same time, you know what, I felt as a core that we were doing well; we were talking and breaking out pretty good. Obviously, it sucks losing Whitey when we are already down a few men, but I thought the guys stepped up pretty good," said defenseman Ben Hutton, who operated on the Golden Knight's top powerplay unit Sunday.

Cassidy mentioned both Brayden Pachal and Kaedan Korczak as potential options for the Golden Knights if Whitecloud is out and the VGK lose their third defenseman. 

The Golden Knights will travel tomorrow in preparation for a Tuesday game against the Winnipeg Jets.