Knights lack chemistry in loss to Sharks to close preseason — PHOTOS
The Golden Knights used their last preseason game as a dress rehearsal for their season opener Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings.
There might still be some dressing to be done.
The Knights’ first game with their projected opening night lineup looked, as expected, out of sync and out of sorts in a 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena on Friday night.
“You want to be playing well,” captain Mark Stone said. “We had our looks. We just need to be better offensively. Our defensive game was there. We just need to execute better.”
It was the first game the Knights used the 12 forwards and six defensemen who will be skating when the games count for real next week with the exception of right wing Pavel Dorofeyev. He’s still nursing a lower-body injury.
Each line and pair had its reps throughout preseason, but it was the first time they skated together and it showed.
“Let’s face it: They didn’t have a strong lineup compared to what we had in terms of NHL experience. They won the game playing a more direct game,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Part of that is a learning curve for us. … We can’t just pass the puck all the way into their net every night. You have to find different ways to score.”
Cassidy felt the 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday was more indicative of how they want to play. That was anything but the case Friday.
Right wing Alex Holtz scored, and goaltender Adin Hill gave up three goals on 18 shots.
Sharks right wing Ethan Cardwell scored a hat trick to anchor goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic’s 27-save effort.
“Enough’s enough of the preseason,” center Colton Sissons said. “We would’ve liked a sharper effort tonight, but there’s no looking in the rearview in the preseason.”
Here are three takeaways from the loss:
1. Lauzon’s debut
The one thing that was certain when the Knights acquired defenseman Jeremy Lauzon was that he was going to hit everything in sight.
He delivered on that front in his preseason debut with a team-high four hits in 13:46.
It wasn’t just the body checks. Lauzon threw hands, too. He dropped the gloves with Sharks center Zack Ostapchuk four shifts into the game. Ostapchuk took exception to hits Lauzon made earlier in the game, including to second-overall pick Michael Misa.
Lauzon drew a roughing penalty on defenseman Vincent Desharnais at the end of the second period after Desharnais took exception to Lauzon’s hit on right wing Cam Lund.
“He’s going to announce his presence in a game, and he did,” Cassidy said. “That isn’t about hitting a young guy, old guy, whatever. He’s hitting whoever has the friggin’ puck.”
Lauzon was battling a lower-body injury that held him out for most of training camp. He wound up playing his role well to the delight of the crowd.
The 28-year-old was part of the trade, along with center Colton Sissons, that sent defenseman Nic Hague to Nashville. Lauzon seemed to fall behind in the battle for the sixth defenseman spot to Ben Hutton, but he showed his worth.
2. Power play struggles
A couple of important notes here.
It’s preseason and the results don’t matter. The Knights didn’t have right wing Pavel Dorofeyev available due to a lower-body injury.
That being said, the Knights’ power play looked timid in an 0-for-4 night.
Cassidy used defenseman Shea Theodore at the right circle in place of Dorofeyev, while having right wing Mitch Marner as the quarterback at the top.
Puck movement looked fine. The problem was no one wanted to shoot.
“Overall, we had some chances. We’ve just got to capitalize on them,” Stone said. “Maybe one or two plays where we overpassed and we need to try and get some pucks to the net.”
It looked disoriented because of the fact there wasn’t a true shooter. Theodore isn’t one to power one-timers from the right circle like Dorofeyev.
Cassidy, however, liked that the unit had a lot of o-zone time. The Sharks did a good job taking away the chances down low where Stone and center Tomas Hertl do their damage.
“Haven’t had a lot of practice time, so we have to address that,” Cassidy said. “Part of that would involve the backside where Pav would be, and I think the puck found (Theodore) a lot. He’s got to be shot-ready in those situations, if we’re going to end up using him there. And I can’t fault him for that. He’s new to that spot.”
A five-forward unit is on the table when Dorofeyev returns. This is a unit that was second in the league last year. Decisions need to be made on how it looks. Does Marner stay at the top? Does Dorofeyev, last year’s leading scorer with 35 goals, come off the top unit? Does Theodore move to the second unit?
Nothing is expected to be perfect even come opening night. The power play, due to lack of reps, is one of them.
3. Schwindt claimed
The Knights placed five players on waivers Thursday. One didn’t get through.
Center Cole Schwindt was claimed off waivers by the defending champion Florida Panthers, the team that drafted him in the third round in 2019. Schwindt was included in the trade that brought right wing Matthew Tkachuk from the Calgary Flames in 2022.
Schwindt appeared a lock to be the Knights’ 13th forward come opening night. He had eight points in 42 games last season while being a responsible player coach Bruce Cassidy could rely on.
Instead, Schwindt goes back to Florida and that seemingly paves the way for Holtz to be the extra forward after a strong performance in camp.
But Holtz is still without a contract as of Friday and remains on a professional tryout deal. That’ll need to change between now and Wednesday.
“He’s in the mix. That’s the best I can tell you,” Cassidy said of Holtz. “I was happy to see him score. He’s been snakebit a little, so he got a bit of a fortunate one. Good for him.”
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
