Golden Knights Head Coach Bruce Cassidy Not Satisfied With The Play of Phil Kessel

LAS VEGAS— The Vegas Golden Knights home-ice record is now a losing one as the team lost Monday night at home 3-2 to the Buffalo Sabres. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 43 saves as the Golden Knight's offense put up less than three goals at home for the sixth-straight game.

There were breakaways, powerplays, several net-mouth chances, and even a penalty shot, but the Golden Knight's offense continues to be snakebitten at home. Head coach Bruce Cassidy expressed his concerns with the team's lack of depth scoring and had some comments on Phil Kessel specifically.

"Jack (Eichel) is out. He is our leading scorer. So other guys are gonna have to step up, and I think offensively, a lot of guys in the top have, and they've got good numbers. But we need a few other guys to pitch in here or there or be a better defensive team so that you can win 2-1 until your scoring comes around; I mean, those are the choices," said Cassidy.

Cassidy once again shortened his bench in the second in third periods, sitting guys like Jake Leschyshyn, Phil Kessel, and Jonas Rondbjerg. Kessel and Rondbjerg both played just over eight-and-a-half minutes, and Leschyshyn only played 6:29.

"Jake (Leschyshyn) and Ronny (Jonas Rondbjerg) don't have a goal at this level (this season)… They've played well for us in general, but if the offense isn't coming as a coach, you lean towards the guys that have done it. So we need a little bit of secondary scoring, obviously. That carried us a long way early on… right now, that has gone a bit dry," said Cassidy.

The Golden Knights are missing three forwards from their lineup due to injury; Paul Cotter, Jack Eichel, and Brett Howden. Late in the game, Michael Amadio was moved up to the team's first line. Cassidy explained it was mostly because of the weak play of Phil Kessel, who started the game on the top line.

"It was less about him (Amadio) and more about who was there that wasn't getting it done (Kessel). So you've got to go to a plan B and C sometimes… We're at plan D now Ammo (Amadio) is kind of plan D right now. We're going to do our best to just slot somebody in there that help us win," said Cassidy.

In his limited shifts, Kessel was on the ice for two of the Sabres' goals in the second period playing the left side with Mark Stone and Chandler Stephenson.

"Phil (Kessel), in fairness, I don't know how much he's played the left side; we had a conversation about it. Phil over his career has played with good offensive players. So sometimes you just assume all smart players will figure it out, but he hasn't been strong on pucks on that side of the ice and hasn't finished plays," said Cassidy.

Cassidy also expressed his concerns about Kessel's defensive play, basically stating that he can't trust the veteran forward against other teams' top matchups.

"I think with Phil (Kessel), there is also the defensive part of things. Stevie (Chandler Stephenson) and Stoney (Mark Stone) are going to play against good players. I'm not going to just throw them against the fourth line all night… in general, they're going to play against good players. Whoever's up there, be it, Phil or anybody, has to respect that and play a 200-foot game," said Cassidy.

The Golden Knights will be back home on Wednesday as they play the Arizona Coyotes at 7:00 p.m.