Golden Knights’ Stunning Late Goal Distracts From Awful Powerplay

The Vegas Golden Knights almost slipped back into their pre-All-Star Break ways as they struggled to score against the San Jose Sharks Thursday night. There was no shortage of chances, but for whatever reason, the Golden Knights couldn't find the back of the net for the majority of the game. 

Two clutch goals from clutch players got the Golden Knights their fourth-straight win. Paul Cotter got a nice pass from Jack Eichel and sniped one on Kappo Kahkonen and Will Carrier scored with 16.6 seconds left to get the game-winning goal.

These two goals highlight the brute perseverance and sticktoitiveness the Golden Knights had in their home-ice win. But they overshadow an ugly aspect of the game, the Golden Knight's 0-for-7 powerplay.

"We did have probably three or four that were good. The other three we obviously weren't. In a game like that, it gets magnified when you don't put up as many goals five-on-five. But we stuck with it and came back in the third period to win a hockey game," said head coach Bruce Cassidy.

The Golden Knights had three powerplays in the first period, and two in both the second and third periods. Just like their play at five-on-five, the chances were there, but the goals were not.

"I thought that there were some times on the powerplay where we were able to generate a little momentum. But when you go 0 for 7 and it's not very good. That's something that we need to address and need to figure out," said Jack Eichel.

The Sharks played a good interior game, giving the Golden Knights the option to take long shots, that Kappo Kahkonen routinely saved.

"They take out lanes and give you the shot. They give you the easy play so you gotta be ready to just take it. Take that easy shot with the screen and almost like that last goal, you get a rebound and now you can start making plays instead of dishing the puck left and right. If you try to force it, the sauce passes, they'll cut them down," said Will Carrier.

A big reason why the Golden Knights' powerplay is 0-for-their-last-24 is the absence of Mark Stone, who provided the team with a net-front presence.

"There are some low plays that I think we don't do enough of. Obviously missing Mark Stone he was really good at that. You can't get away from it, there are other players that can still execute some of those low plays," said Cassidy.

Like all powerplay struggles, it comes down to simplifying the game, says Cassidy.

"We've talked about enough but listen, once you're out there, that's the play (the pretty passing plays) they see and they want to make it. They feel like they can make it. All I can do is go over it tomorrow again and say that it's probably not your best option and eventually you hope after you are 0-for a while that they realize that right is to maybe simplify and play to the interior ice," said Cassidy.

The powerplay will certainly be one of the things the Golden Knights will work on during tomorrow's 11:30 a.m. practice at City National Arena. The VGK will return to T-Mobile Arena on Saturday to play the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:30 p.m.