Slumping Golden Knights Get Break At “Perfect” Time

The NHL All-Star Break could not have come at a better time for the Vegas Golden Knights. Losers of seven of their last eight, the Golden Knights dropped their most recent game in overtime to the New York Islanders 2-1 on Saturday night.

Scoring, puck luck, and an overall lack of urgency have been the main problems for the VGK as of late. Now they have a nine-day break to rest and recuperate before their next game on Feb. 7th against the Nashville Predators on the road.

"The way this past bit has gone. I think some rest and recovery are good for everyone. If we come out of the break playing like we did tonight, I think we're going to be the winning team more times than not," said Golden Knights defensemen Shea Theodore.

Bruce Cassidy and Logan Thompson are the only members of the team that won't get the full nine-day break, as they will represent the Golden Knights at the All-Star Game in Sunrise, Florida. But given that Cassidy is a coach and Thompson a goaltender, they can't necessarily do much to fix the team's biggest issue, and that is scoring.

Since captain Mark Stone left the lineup, the Golden Knights have only scored 15 goals in their last seven games. Outside of a 6-2 game against the Washington Capitals, the VGK have scored three or fewer goals in six of their last seven games.

"We just can't seem to buy one right now. But I think we're doing the right things. We have guys in the right spots and guys in front… Every team goes through scoring droughts over the course of a season, and we have it right now. So I think it is a perfect time for the break to get some rest and come back ready to go," said Theodore.

At the break, the Golden Knights sit tied for first in the Pacific Divison with 62 points. The Los Angeles Kings are tied for the division lead with 62 points, followed by the Seattle Kraken with 61. Both the Edmonton Oilers (58 points) and Calgary Flames (57 points) are challenging for a top-three spot in the Pacific as well.

Another benefit from the long pause for the Golden Knights is potentially getting back guys from injury. A trio of Golden Knights most recently returned from injury in Brett Howden, Shea Theodore, and Will Carrier, but Stone, Daniil Miromanov, and Zach Whitecloud remain unavailable.

Whitecloud appears to be the closest to returning, as he skated in the most recent Golden Knight's practice in a full-contact jersey.

Day one of the 2023 NHL All-Star Game will start at 7:00 p.m. on Feb. 4th.