Published on: March 20, 2026, 09:31h.

Updated on: March 20, 2026, 09:31h.

• Vegas Golden Knights struggling in the Conference standings, 3-7-0 in their previous 10 games
• The team embarks on a road trip, facing the Predators in Nashville this Saturday
• Three key concerns about the Golden Knights at this point

It’s a nerve-wracking moment for supporters of the Las Vegas Golden Knights, who recently faced a 4-0 defeat at T-Mobile Arena against the Utah Mammoth. This marks their second consecutive shutout loss, pushing their record to 3-7-0 over the last ten games, placing them seventh in the Western Conference, four points ahead of the eighth-positioned Los Angeles Kings.

Back-to-Back Shutout Defeats

If the playoffs began today, the Golden Knights would face the formidable Edmonton Oilers, led by the NHL’s top player, Connor McDavid, who is currently grappling with significant pressure due to past playoff disappointments and injuries (notably Leon Draisaitl).

The NHL playoff season begins on April 18, and if current standings persist, placing a bet on the Golden Knights against this backdrop wouldn’t be wise, particularly with Draisaitl’s expected return. The Oilers currently sit in sixth place in the Conference.

Betting Insights

Prior to the season at BetMGM, the Golden Knights held +800 odds to win the Stanley Cup, sharing the top odds with the Oilers. The Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes had +850, followed by the Dallas Stars at +900. Over 40% of bets were placed on three teams for the Cup victory – Golden Knights, Avalanche, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The pre-season Over/Under for points was set at 104.5, with the team’s current pace at only 90.3. Analytics platforms like MoneyPuck estimate a 17.3% chance for the Golden Knights to finish first in the Pacific Division (just two points behind the leading Anaheim Ducks), a 27.8% chance to place second, and a 26% chance for third. Notably, the Ducks are facing 10 non-playoff teams in their last 14 games, while the Golden Knights are lined up against seven.

Currently, DraftKings lists Las Vegas at +950, behind the Avalanche (+250), Tampa Bay Lightning (+450), Hurricanes (+450), and Stars (+900). The Oilers come in at +1300 (while the Maple Leafs extraordinarily sit at +100000!).

At FanDuel, the odds for Las Vegas are +1100, following the Avalanche (+340), Lightning (+370), Hurricanes (+550), and Stars (+1000). The Oilers trail at +1800 (with the Maple Leafs languishing at +200000!).

Three Major Concerns

Before last night’s game against Utah, head coach Bruce Cassidy expressed: “The final element we need to complete is executing the crucial plays that significantly affect the game’s outcome. I’m monitoring the standings and being fully aware of our position, as well as those of other teams in our division. However, my primary focus remains on our performance.

“We must keep the puck out of our net… prioritizing goaltending and team defense. When we’ve achieved this, we’ve secured many victories. To progress as needed, this is the identity we must establish. We cannot lose a game and then attempt to open everything up dramatically. We can’t let ourselves fall into that cycle. We’ve generally been a reliable scoring team throughout the season.”

This commentary came before the recent shutout defeat. On the injury front, goalie Carter Hart, out with a lower body issue, is progressing but was not expected to travel with the team for their upcoming game against the Predators in Nashville on Saturday. The odds currently sit at Vegas -130 and Nashville +110.

“He’s making strides, getting ready,” he commented.

Goaltending Performance in Question

The Golden Knights have considerable talent, reflected in their salary cap commitment – currently just $655,601 in available cap space (PuckPedia). However, inconsistent goaltending remains a significant concern, with Adin Hill earning $6.25 million annually but offering just a .869 save percentage over 19 games. In the recent game, he conceded three goals on three shots within just 8:12.

Akira Schmid, on the other hand, has participated in 33 games, achieving a .895 save percentage. Hart is on the mend; he recorded 22 wins in 55 games with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2022-23 and a .907 save percentage before encountering off-ice issues (acquitted of sexual assault in July 2025) that sidelined him for a year.

Another issue is the lack of depth scoring, which ties into a broader concern – injuries. The Golden Knights have felt the absence of center William Karlsson (30 goals with Las Vegas in 2023-24), who has been sidelined since November due to a lower body injury. His return this season remains uncertain, and the team has yet to move him to long-term injured reserve.

Deficiencies in Secondary Scoring

Jack Eichel is centering Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev on the first line, while Tomas Hertl leads the second line with Mitch Marner and Pavel Dorofeyev.

In their last six outings, the Golden Knights have managed only 13 goals. Cassidy mentioned last night the issues of over-complicating plays, deviating from a straightforward approach, leading to intense pressure. The weight of the offensive load rests heavily on Eichel, Marner, Hertl, and Dorofeyev due to Stone’s injury, which has highlighted their shortcomings.

Ultimately, since the Olympic break, the Golden Knights have achieved a meager .333 points percentage, ranking third worst in the NHL, and they remain winless (0-12-1) since January 19 when the opponent scores first, as per ESPN.

With shaky goaltending, a need for secondary scoring, and health concerns looming, the prospect of a quick exit in the first playoff round appears likely unless the Golden Knights can turn things around.