Knights look to Tortorella to provide late-season spark

John Tortorella addresses the media Monday prior tyhe Vegas Golden Knights game against Vancouver. LAS VEGAS — For the Vegas Golden Knights, it’s about moving forward at this point. It’s about starting games faster, finishing them better and securing a spot in the postseason.

Management didn’t feel Bruce Cassidy could do it, so they’re giving John Tortorella eight games to figure it out. Tortorella replaced Cassidy Sunday and he flew to Las Vegas, met with Cassidy’s staff, all of who remain with the club, talked to the players, some he knew, most he didn’t, and prepared to get behind the bench as a head coach for the first time run more than two years as the Knights hosted Vancouver at T-Mobile Arena Monday night. Can he light a spark under this group?

Can he get them across the finish line over these next eight games and into the playoffs? Tortorella is essentially on a PTO. He’s the coach now and if the Knights make the playoffs.

Nothing about a future for him with Vegas has been decided, much like nothing has been decided in Columbus between the Blue Jackets and Rick Bowness, whose team is in playoff contention and held the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference prior to Monday’s play. “We’re not going to make many changes,” Torts told the media at City National Arena while assistant John Stevens ran the morning skate. “I have some points of emphasis I want them to know but I haven’t watched this team that much this year.