Golden Knights look to stop home skid against Flames (Mar 17, 2018)
LAS VEGAS -- With 95 points, a sparkling 24-9-2 home record and a comfortable lead in the Pacific Division, there are plenty of teams in the NHL who wouldn't mind switching places with the expansion Vegas Golden Knights these days.
But the feel-good story of the NHL has dropped four straight games at T-Mobile Arena heading into Sunday afternoon's game with the Calgary Flames. And with the NHL playoffs only three weeks away, it's a trend that coach Gerard Gallant and the Golden Knights (45-21-5) want to nip in the bud.
"We've got to figure it out quick here," left winger Erik Haula said after Friday night's 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. "We had a good meeting with the guys after the game. Got to realize we only have a couple handfuls left of games.
"We've got to start peaking right now. I know firsthand you have to play your best hockey at the end of the year and that will help you out. Otherwise, it's going to be hard. It's very hard to turn it just at the end of the year."
Vegas has been outscored 21-10 in its last four home games, including an ugly 8-3 blowout loss to New Jersey on Wednesday. That was followed by Friday night's loss to the Minnesota Wild, who led 3-0 after two periods and were never really threatened during the game.
"I wouldn't say we're playing awful hockey," Gallant said. "I'm not going there, because we haven't."
But ...
"It's important to start winning again," Gallant said. "We've had a great home record all year long and we've got to make sure that we're the hardest working team on Sunday and find a way to win."
The Golden Knights will be playing a Calgary team that is coming off a 7-4 loss at San Jose on Friday and is competing for its playoff life. The Flames (35-27-10), who are in fifth place in the Pacific Division, are four points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
"Nobody's going to give up," winger Kris Versteeg told NHL.com. "We're not out of it. A lot of great things have happened in this league over time. Hopefully, we can be that team to pull off something great here coming to the end."
"If anybody's going to be pouting, they'll be left behind," center Matt Stajan said. "There's enough guys in this room who know that we've got to come together. There's nothing else that really needs to be said. If you're not ready to go right now, not in it to do something special, you shouldn't be playing."
Calgary is 0-2 against Vegas, including a lopsided 7-3 loss Feb. 21 in its last visit to T-Mobile Arena. The Flames own one of the better road records in the NHL (20-10-6) but will be facing a very focused Vegas team.
"Right now, we need everybody," said Haula, who ranks second on the team with 28 goals. "It's tough times. We need to end (the home losing streak) quick here."
