The Vegas Golden Knights looked like they were ready to roll right out of the gate this season. Through 10 games, the offense was humming, the goals were piling up and the defending Pacific Division contenders were playing like one of the most dangerous teams in hockey.
That picture has changed fast.
Vegas has dropped four of its last five, and Friday night’s 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils was the latest hit to a team suddenly fighting a scoring drought. Over that five-game stretch, the Golden Knights have scored just 11 goals, and only six of them have come at five-on-five.
For a group built around Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone, that kind of dry spell stands out. It’s not just a bad night here or there - it’s a stretch that has started to chip away at the momentum Vegas built in the opening weeks of the 2026-27 NHL season.
The numbers tell the story of how sharp the drop has been. Vegas opened 8-2 and scored 41 goals in those first 10 games. Even better, 29 of those came at even strength, which showed the Golden Knights were generating offense without leaning too hard on special teams.
That edge has faded. In their last five games, the team has had trouble turning chances into goals and has not consistently produced the kind of five-on-five pressure that fueled the hot start.
Even Tuesday’s 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators didn’t really solve the issue. Vegas scored four times, but only one goal came at five-on-five.
Two were empty-netters and one came on the power play.
Take that game out, and the Golden Knights have only seven goals across their four losses.
Still, Ryan Craig isn’t sounding the alarm. The Golden Knights coach said the team is getting looks, but the finish just hasn’t been there.
“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.”
Craig also pointed to puck management and defensive work as the path back to more offense, saying the chances will come if the team handles those areas better.
“We shouldn’t be concerned about that part of our game because when we do manage the puck and we do check, we create enough (opportunities), they’re going to go in,” Craig said.
Now Vegas heads into a four-game road trip needing to get its attack back in sync. The talent is still there. The recent results just make it clear the Golden Knights have to find their scoring touch again, and soon.
In Other News...
Eichels Quiet Stretch Is Becoming A Real Golden Knights Concern
Jack Eichels recent scoring lull has started to stand out at the wrong time for the Golden Knights. He managed only one goal last week, and while his season-long production still points to elite numbers, the broader picture is harder to ignore for a team that leans on him to drive play and finish chances. With Vegas already dealing with some offensive inconsistency, Eichels quiet stretch has become part of the conversation around a group that has not looked as sharp in the attacking zone as it usually does.
There are reasons to wonder whether the grind of international play has left him a step off, especially with a demanding road trip looming. The Golden Knights also need more from the rest of their top end, including Mark Stone and Mitch Marner, if they want to keep the pressure off Eichel and avoid asking him to carry too much of the load. The next few games should say plenty about whether this is just a temporary dip or something more concerning for Vegas. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Just Helped Create A Devils Lineup Concern
New Jerseys strong start has been one of the early stories of the season, with the Devils opening 9-5-0 in October and then winning five of their last six. The momentum has only been helped by the arrival of goaltender Hellebuyck, who has opened his Devils tenure undefeated in two starts and already drawn praise from former goalie Martin Brodeur.
But the trip through Vegas added a fresh concern to a lineup that had been rolling. Anthony Mantha left the game early after an undisclosed injury, and coach Sheldon Keefe said the club would get a full evaluation once it got back to New Jersey. For a team trying to keep its footing in the standings, the timing of that update matters just as much as the result in the win-loss column. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Give Young Blue-Line Prospect A Fresh NHL Look
The Golden Knights made another tweak to their blue line, recalling defenseman Viliam Kmec from the Henderson Silver Knights and sending Ville Heinola back to the AHL in the corresponding move. For Vegas, it is another look at a young defenseman who has drawn attention for his development in both professional and junior hockey, and another sign the club is still sorting out its depth on the back end.
Kmec, 22, gets a fresh NHL opportunity as the Golden Knights continue to manage their defensive mix around a player who has already spent time between the two levels this season. Heinolas reassignment opens a roster spot and keeps the door open for more movement if Vegas wants to keep evaluating options, but for now the focus shifts to what Kmec can do with his latest chance. [Read more 🡒]