Golden Knights frustrated with poor defense, slow start

The Vegas Golden Knights have had a terrible start to the 2020-21 season. They are currently sitting in last in the Pacific Division with a 1-2-0 record, along with losing their two best forwards to injury, Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone. Now, one of their best assets has been struggling to start the season, their defense.

Stone and Pacioretty both averaged over a point per game last season, so now the team has gone to a more defensive approach to their game. This is much easier said than done, as everyone wants to score in the NHL. Wednesday night, Vegas gave up 67 shot attempts, 38 shots on goal, and 18 high danger scoring chances in a game where the Blues won 3-1.

«We gave up probably 10 grade-A chances in the first period, which should be the number for the entire game,» winger Reilly Smith said following the game. «I think it's going to be a while before we see some light at the end of the tunnel, and we start getting some players back, so it's going to start in the defensive zone for me.»

Reilly Smith wasn't the only one to notice as head coach Pete DeBoer also noticed the team's play as not being up to par.

«It's a concern because you can't win in this league giving up 40-plus shots per night,» DeBoer said.

The Golden Knights have averaged 26.83 shots on goal against with DeBoer coaching, and in three games to start the season, they have given up 38.67. Along with this, their defensive coverage has struggled mightily.

«It hasn't been good enough. We need to be tighter, especially in the slot,» said William Karlsson. «We gave up way too many chances. We need to be more compact, and try to get the first guy to stop their guy and go from there.»

Reilly Smith knows how important it is to not start out slow, and it is huge in determining how the rest of the season progresses.

«We need to look at these games like they're playoffs for us because it seems like teams who are in playoff spots around Thanksgiving are the teams that are there at the end of the year,» Smith said. «You can't let these losses pile up.»

theathletic.com

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