Marner Activated

Now that he has seen him up close, we can tell John Tortorello really likes Mitch Marner's game.  He pretty much unlocked Marner over the two games he has coached.  Marner started as the top line center in the 6-3 win over Calgary Thursday night.  And the former Toronto Maple Leaf responded by having a hat trick and five points on the night.  The Golden Knights still had to chase the game.  They trailed three times on the night and rallied in the third period following a 26-minute delay to fix the ice after the Zamboni caused a rough spot.  The Golden Knights had Pavel Dorofeyev's 19 power play goal of the season, Ivan Barbashev scored a goal, and Brett Howden potted the game winner.  We preview VGK-Edimonton Satirday.  The Oilers haven't lost in five games.  And we have our WTF feature. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pace, pace and more pace.  John Tortorella worked on his team's speed in Wednesday's practice.  He want the team to play fast in all three zones.  We will see if his message gets across to VGK tonight as the Flames come into T-Mobile in a spoiler's role.  VGK will need to play Tort's pressure game for more than one period. We will see if the change behind the bench ignites VGK.  The Golden Knights will see the return of Zach Whitecloud to the Fortress for the first time since getting traded to Calgary in the Rasmus Andersson deal.  We can expect Mitch Marner to play all over the ice moving forward according to Tortorella.  We also could see the return of Carter Hart between the pipes for the first time since January.  It will be a reunion of sorts for Torts and Hart, who were together in Philly.  We also have our Locks, Props and Chance for tonight's game. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We debate defensive strategies, shot blocking trends and whether VGK can reclaim Stanley Cup contender status under John Tortorella.  We have only a one-game sample size to go on, but VGK should be able to improve after Torts saw the team behind the bench.  The nerves and Staleness should dissipate when VGK hits the ice for its first practice under Tortorella Wednesday morning.  He will work on VGK being direct and playing faster.  We could see a different gear from VGK against Calgary and Edmonton in its next two games.  We also discuss the games of Mitch Marner and Rasmus Andersson and how they could potentially grow under Torts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

John Tortorella said he made some changes to start the second period against Vancouver last night, because VGK wasn't playing direct and was playing tentative and nervous in the first.  To start the middle period Torts flipped Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner to center the first and second lines. The Golden Knights scored three times in the middle period enroute to a 4-2 victory over the hapless Vancouver Canucks. It was a long day for Tortorella, who attended practice, met with the media and players, and coached his first game behind the Golden Knights bench.  He said he was a little stale himself messing up line changes and calling Nic Dowd by another name.  But in the end he got VGK to play more to its identity.  He wanted the team to play faster and more direct.  We also dissect the comments made by Torts and GM Kelly McCrimmon.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight will mark the first game behind the bench for new coach John Tortorella.  We should see some immediate changes.  He believes in tight checking, especially 5v5.  Accountability is a big thing with Torts.  If you don't comply, he will bench even star players.  We are curious to see what lineup he will put on the ice this evening.  He also has to clean up a lot of areas with the team in short order.  VGK cannot keep chasing games, they have trailed 3-0 in eight of their last 16 games.  VGK needs to play a more physical game under Torts and they need to get back in the win column having lost the last three games, six of seven and 12 of their last 16 games.  Tortorella is only signed through the end of the season according to reports. If he fails and VGK can't get out of the first round of the playoffs, does that mean GM Kelly McCrimmon will be the next to get the ax?  We also have a preview of tonight's VGK-Vancouver game.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bruce Cassidy got fired by the Golden Knights today.  He ends his Golden Knights tenure with a record of 178-99-43 and the team's first Stanley Cup. Tortorella won the 2004 Cup with Tampa.  He was fired by the Flyers at the end of the 2024-25 season. He was an assistant for Team USA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

VGK stumbled again last night this time in overtime in a 4-3 loss to the Oilers. The Golden Knights have dropped nine of its last ten games against rival Edmonton. Questions arised around Adin Hill's goaltending again - giving up four blocker side goals.  Mark Stone had a two-goal game - putting the puck in the net for the first time since before the Olympics. Ivan Barbashev scored the only other goal for VGK.  We question why Brett Howden was taking a crucial O-T faceoff, which he lost and led to Evan Boucher's game-winning goal.  We preview the VGK-Caps matchup Saturday.  Washington comes off a 7-4 win in Utah but they have been unable to score a lot of goals.  The Capitals are in sixth place with nine games remaining.  And we have our WTF comments.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

VGK entertains the Edmonton Oilers in a critical four point game at the Fortress Thursday night.  The Golden Knights trail the Oil by just a point in the Pacific.  Both teams are chasing first place Anaheim.  With ten games remaining for each team, it is an important positional game.  These two teams could meet in the first round of the playoffs and this could be a game that could catapult one of the teams to getting home ice if that happens.  Edmonton has owned VGK of late winning four straight and 8 of 9.  We talk about how Bruce Cassidy could jumpstart his top players and which lines have the most chemistry down the stretch.  And, we have our Locks, Props and Chance for the game.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Golden Knights offense stalled again in last night's 4-1 loss in Winnipeg.  VGK's offense sputtered again despite putting 9 shots on net before the Jets had their first SOG after the midway point of the first period.  VGK gave up goals in a variety of ways - a blown coverage, Shea Theodore pinched in too deep and gave up the puck, and a puck that went off Brayden McNabb's skate on a breakout that keyed a 3-on-1 advantage for Winnipeg.  Bruce Cassidy said his top guys have struggled to get their confidence back.  Jack Eichel and Mark Stone haven't been producing of late.  VGK couldn't score on 6 on 4 and 5 on 4 advantages.  We also scoreboard watch in the Pacific.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

VGK is looking to string back-to-back wins together as they face a desperate Winnipeg Jets team that is five points out of a playoff spot.  The Golden Knights are hoping momentum from Sunday's win in Dallas carries over into tonight's game.  We will see what Bruce Cassidy's lineup looks like.  Will he keep veteran Reilly Smith, who scored the game-winner in Dallas, in the lineup tonight.  VGK will probably start Adin Hill in net.  He was better vs Dallas because the defense responded well and kept the crease clean for the most part.  We run down schedules for Pacific Division teams down the stretch.  And we have our Locks, Props and Chance for tonight's contest.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.