There are poor starts to hockey games, and then there’s what the Golden Knights experienced during their game against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday night. Vegas didn’t manage a shot on goal until 17:25 into the first period, and that was just a dump-in from the neutral zone. They conceded two goals while achieving only 0.13 expected goals in that period.
The situation was so dire that, despite a strong effort in the last half of the game, it ultimately affected the outcome.
Slow starts have become a concerning trend for the Golden Knights this season. They rank 21st in the NHL for scoring first in only 47.7% of their games, alongside teams like San Jose, Detroit, Ottawa, both New York teams, and Seattle. However, unlike most of those teams, the Golden Knights have consistently managed to overcome these early deficits. They are tied for first in the NHL with 14 wins after conceding the first goal, and their 14-9-0 record is second only to Washington. Their .609 points percentage would qualify them for a wild card spot in both conferences midway through the season.
While many might view these slow starts as a problem in need of correction, head coach Bruce Cassidy sees it as a characteristic of how the Golden Knights approach the game.
“For as long as I’ve been here, we often start slower than other teams because we prefer to handle the puck and create plays. This sometimes leads to slower starts, unlike teams that simply chip and chase. Naturally, we need to get a feel for the puck, which contributes to our sluggish starts,” Cassidy explained.
He compared the difficulty teams face scoring on power plays at the start of a period to the Golden Knights needing to find their offensive rhythm before they can perform optimally.
“Once we’re in sync and have established that feel for the puck, we’re a strong team. That’s why we’ve been able to mount comebacks, as we have the skill to make plays even if we fall behind, meaning we’re never out of a game,” Cassidy noted.
Cassidy stated that if the team were consistently losing games, he would be more concerned about their starts. However, since that’s not currently the case, the focus remains on minimizing the impact of these slow beginnings.
“We need to find our game quickly so that our slow start is only about six or seven minutes instead of entire periods. I want to avoid being unpredictable like a Jekyll and Hyde team. Let’s be consistent, and I believe we have enough talent to largely prevent these situations,” Cassidy remarked.
In the upcoming game against Carolina, the first goal will be crucial. The Hurricanes also struggle with slow starts, having allowed the first goal as many times as the Golden Knights this season. However, the aftermath differs significantly; when Carolina scores first, they usually win, while their record drops to 11-10-3 when they do not.
