By Jordan Long
The Vegas Golden Knights take on the Ottawa Senators tomorrow as they continue their 8 game road trip. They look to stop a 4 game losing skid. Vegas decided it was time to move on from Head Coach Gerard Gallant and assistant coach Mike Kelly.
Gallant was hired by Vegas when they entered the league for the 2017 to 2018 season. He had 6 years of NHL experience with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers. Vegas hoped he could help this team become a winner in their first season and a decent year would be finishing .500 or better. The playoffs would have been a dream season even if it was a first-round exit.
In their 1st year, the Golden Knights smashed expectations. Not only did they go 51-24-7 in the regular season, but advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. Unfortunately, Vegas lost to the Washington Capitals in 5 games.
Last year Vegas dipped a little ending at 43-32-7 for 93 points. Vegas made the postseason but it was an early playoff exit, losing in the 1st-round in 7 games to the San Jose Sharks.
The Golden Knights anticipated making the postseason this season. Right now, they stand at 24-19-6 for a total of 54 points, tied with the Winnipeg Jets for the 2nd Wild Card spot. Winnipeg is ahead of them because they have 1 more win in regulation and overtime before a shootout than Vegas.
The Golden Knights rank 17th in scoring with 3.02 goals per game. When teams take a penalty, Vegas makes the opponents pay. They set the power play up and have chances to put the puck in the net. They light the lamp on 22.1% of their opportunities with the man advantage.
On defense they allow teams to dictate the play in their defensive zone. Skaters keep the puck in the zone and shoot the puck on the net. Once that happens, even if the goalie saves it, the net is wide open for rebounds for rival teams to put the puck in the net. Vegas gives up 3.04 goals per game.
Their power play kill isn’t great. When they are called for a penalty, rival teams keep the puck in the Vegas end. When the Golden Knights try to shoot the puck out, opponents keep it in for chances. More times than not, Vegas allows goals. They kill off 78.8% of their penalties, 19th in the NHL.
This is a panic move. Vegas must feel like the season is slipping away from them. They are still in a position to make the postseason. All they need to do is win a few games straight and they are back in control to earn a playoff spot.
The Golden Knights’ front office couldn’t wait any longer for the year to turn around. They hired Peter DeBoer to take over for the final 33 games of the year. According to ESPN Golden Knights general manager, Kelly McCrimmon said, “In Peter DeBoer, we have a proven, experienced head coach who we believe can help us achieve our ultimate goal. We are excited to welcome Peter and his family to the Vegas Golden Knights organization. We look forward to a strong finish to the 2019-20 season with Peter at the helm and a successful tenure in the seasons to come.”
Peter DeBoer was let go by the San Jose Sharks on December 11th, 2019. The Sharks were 15-16-2 at the time. DeBoer knows how to coach a team into the playoffs. In his 12 years in the NHL, his teams made the playoffs 5 times, including two trips to the Cup Final in 2012 with the New Jersey Devils and 2016 with the Sharks.
Vegas is taking a risk with DeBoer. He could change the course of the year which may end in a playoff birth. If it doesn’t more modifications are probably going to come in the offseason for the Golden Knights.
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