Vegas Offense Stalls Ahead Of Four-Game Trip

The Vegas Golden Knights have scored 11 goals in their last five games, losing four of those contests, including a 5-2 defeat to New Jersey on Friday. Only six of those 11 goals came at 5 on 5. The team opens a four-game road trip Monday night in Boston against the Bruins.

Vegas started the season 8-2, putting up 41 goals in those 10 games with 29 coming at even strength. The offense then slowed. Outside a 4-1 win over Ottawa on Tuesday, the Golden Knights managed seven goals across four losses, one of which went to overtime. Even in the Ottawa win, just one goal came at 5 on 5; two were empty-netters and another came on the power play.

Coach Ryan Craig said the team is still generating looks but is not converting them. "We are creating some opportunities," Craig said. "We haven't finished as well. We haven't played with a lead as much as we did earlier."

The roster carries several All-Stars, including Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone. Forward Ivan Barbashev said the group has the experience to work through the stretch. "We've got to play better, that's for sure, but we have a really good team," Barbashev said. "We've got to figure it out and get out of this slump. We'll be better."

Vegas held first place in the Pacific Division for much of the early season. Edmonton now sits one point ahead of the Golden Knights. Both teams have appeared in the Stanley Cup Final twice in the past four years.

The road schedule runs through Boston, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Buffalo. Craig said the team will practice Saturday before departing. "It's completing passes. It's stacking shifts," Craig said. "Our execution from the last 10 days maybe hasn't been at the level we needed it to be."

The Golden Knights visit the Bruins at TD Garden on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. ET, followed by games in Pittsburgh, Detroit and Buffalo.