Knights finish critical homestand on down note
Three goals on its first three shots propel Utah to a 4-0 win and a 2-2 homestand for Vegas.
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (5) fights Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse (67) during the second period at T-Mobile Arena. LAS VEGAS — Well, that didn’t work out too well. Bruce Cassidy may have gone to the well one too many times with Adin Hill as his starting goaltender Thursday.
Hill, who was starting his sixth straight game, allowed three goals on three shots and was pulled 8:12 into the match against Utah at T-Mobile Arena. It was a disastrous evening for the Golden Knights, who are trying to keep pace with Anaheim and Edmonton in the Pacific Division but were a virtual no-show against the Mammoth, which is battling for a playoff berth in this, its second season in Salt Lake City. The 4-0 loss wouldn’t be so hard to accept if the Knights had started on time, got some coverage in their own zone and yes, had their goaltender come up with a couple of stops early while his teammates tried to find their footing.
But none of it happened. As a result, Vegas finished what was a critical four-game homestand with two straight losses and saw its offense sputter with no goals in those two defeats. In fact, the Knights last put one in the other team’s net last Saturday in the second period against Chicago.
That’s 148 minutes, nine seconds and counting without scoring. Thursday, just 28 shots on goal as Karel Vejmelka turned them all aside. “I’m concerned that returned down opportunities to shoot,” Cassidy said.