Something is wrong with the Vegas Golden Knights. I'm talking about being in last place in the Pacific Division. That kind of wrong. They're behind teams such as the Anaheim Ducks, the Calgary Flames, and *GASP* the Seattle Kraken. In a topsy-turvy start, the Golden Misfits are sitting in the Pacific Division basement. What is going on in Sin City, and what can the Knights do to turn their season around?
First, let's look at the forward play for Vegas. It's been listless so far, with a lack of goals coming from the likes of Mark Stone, William Karlsson, and Reilly Smith. When Vegas needed timely goals, they haven't gotten any help. That was the case for last year, where they bowed out to the Montreal Canadiens in six games.
Robin Lehner deserves some of the blame as well, with a GAA of 3.59. His save percentage could also be better, standing at .901. Of course, the backcheck hasn't been strong for Vegas. However, it's on Panda to make necessary stops, specifically with Marc-Andre Fleury not being around anymore.
There is a silver lining for Vegas. For one, it's only five games in the season. It's very early, and the Golden Knights have played some formidable teams, including the St. Louis Blues and Edmonton Oilers. Vegas also plays in the Pacific Division, which is regarded as one of the weakest divisions in the NHL.
While all this sounds good, there needs to be better playing from Vegas all around. The hype surrounding the franchise has reached a fever point, especially after they went to the Stanley Cup Final in their first year. Otherwise, it's going to be a long while before Sin City sees a Stanley Cup champion.
