3 takeaways from Knights’ loss: Rookie goalie let down by poor start

Goaltender Carl Lindbom gave the Golden Knights a chance in his second NHL start. His teammates just couldn’t score enough to win.

The Knights tried to rally after a slow start Friday against the Colorado Avalanche at T-Mobile Arena, but they came up short in a 4-2 loss.

The team wasn’t ready from the jump once again. The Knights (6-2-3) gave up the first goal for the ninth time in 11 games when Avalanche right wing Martin Necas scored on a one-timer from the left circle 41 seconds into the first period.

Necas added two assists in his first game since signing an eight-year, $92 million extension Thursday.

Coach Bruce Cassidy said the Knights discussed the play Necas scored on before the game started. They knew Colorado defenseman Cale Makar was going to look for a seam pass coming down the right side, yet Makar was still able to send the puck across the offensive zone to Necas.

“There’s a little bit of the coach needs to prepare his team to play, right?” Cassidy said. “But as players, you have to start on time. We’re getting to the point here it’s almost November and this is a recurring thing.”

Center Brock Nelson added a goal in the second period to put Colorado up 2-0 at the second intermission. Center Tomas Hertl and right wing Mitch Marner scored in the third period for the Knights, but they never tied the game.

Defenseman Brent Burns scored for the Avalanche after Hertl’s goal and Makar sealed Colorado’s win with an empty-net goal with 1:48 remaining.

Lindbom, who made his NHL debut Sunday in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, made 22 saves in the loss.

“They’re a good team,” defenseman Ben Hutton said. “We have to give them credit.”

Here are three takeaways from the loss:

1. Power play stays cold

The Knights had the NHL’s top power play before captain Mark Stone suffered a wrist injury Oct. 18 against the Calgary Flames.

They’ve been one of the league’s worst teams on the man advantage since.

The Knights struggled again Friday, finishing 1-for-6 on the power play. Their lone goal was from Hertl 2:51 into the third period.

“You’ve got to execute,” Cassidy said.

Marner, who was the quarterback of the five-forward first unit before Stone’s injury, is taking Stone’s spot below the goal line. Defenseman Shea Theodore is back on the point.

The Knights, despite the more traditional look, haven’t looked comfortable. Colorado’s penalty kill, which ranks fifth in the NHL, created dangerous chances short-handed.

“We knew they had a good penalty kill coming into the game,” Hutton said. “We know our power play is deadly when it’s on.”

2. A step slow

The Knights weren’t ready for the early 1 p.m. start to their annual Nevada Day game.

It wasn’t just Necas’ goal. The Knights looked slow in all phases. Cassidy said that can’t happen against Colorado (7-1-4), which is tied for the NHL lead with 18 points.

“You better be ready to play,” Cassidy said. “We dug ourselves a hole, we started digging out of it and got back into the game, but we’ve got to start on time against these teams.”

Defense breakdowns also cost the Knights. Nelson’s goal came after a giveaway by Hutton, who attempted to slide the puck to center William Karlsson at the end of a power play.

Karlsson, however, had left the defensive zone to defend Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog, who was coming out of the penalty box. Center Jack Drury picked up the turnover for the Avalanche and sprung Nelson for a breakaway.

“Tough play by me,” Hutton said. “Looking back on it, easy to say I shouldn’t have done it. I have to own it.”

3. Lindbom shines

Lindbom, 22, has faced stiff competition his first two NHL games. He’s played well both times.

Cassidy and director of goaltending Sean Burke wanted to get Lindom another start so he could build off his strong 26-save debut against the Lightning.

The two goals Friday weren’t the 2021 seventh-round pick’s fault. He responded to each one by staying calm in the net.

“He played good,” Cassidy said.

Cassidy said it’s still unknown what kind of workload goaltender Akira Schmid can handle with Adin Hill week to week with a lower-body injury.

Schmid is 5-1-0 this season, but Lindbom has been solid as his backup so far.

“(Lindbom) gave us a chance to win,” Cassidy said.

Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.