May want Bruce Cassidy to divert his consideration from the remainder of this column.
The Golden Knights coach might be not going to like it, even when he begrudgingly agrees on some stage.
However the Knights’ loss to Montreal, as dangerous because it was to blow a third-period lead with some lackluster play, wasn’t the worst option to finish 2024 and what has been an in any other case spectacular begin to the season.
Cassidy, as all the time, mentioned the proper issues at his postgame information convention. He’s, in any case, top-of-the-line coaches most reporters have ever encountered at giving considerate solutions no matter his temper after a sport.
And, belief me, he was seething. The fixed and considerably rhythmic tapping of his toes underneath the desk was a lifeless giveaway to the trend he was holding again whereas attempting to calmly clarify the intricacies of the penalty kill or another minute element.
Within the grand scheme of issues, dropping two midseason factors on the finish of a 10-1 stretch isn’t the top of the world.
However Cassidy hates dropping. Possibly greater than he loves successful.
It’s in all probability a giant a part of why he has been so profitable.
Slightly win
Right here’s the truth, although. Not all losses are created equal, and typically they’re a obligatory instrument to remind a group, particularly an elite one, that it will possibly’t simply present up and win each evening. Regardless of how a lot better they’re than an opponent, gamers should give attention to the minor particulars each evening to win video games at this stage.
That message is hard to ship while you’re successful each evening.
It’s a concept that was posed to Cassidy after his group bounced again with a formidable win Thursday evening. He wasn’t totally on board.
“I see the place you’re going with it, and, sure, coaches use these moments to get the gamers’ consideration, and typically it really works out for you and typically it would take two or three (losses),” Cassidy mentioned. “That hasn’t occurred to us too usually, and hopefully not once more to be sincere with you.
“Let’s face it. You are likely to get the gamers’ consideration higher while you lose. In order that’s the benefit of it. I don’t like dropping, so I can simply throw that benefit out the window. I’d slightly win and simply need to remind the blokes.”
Positive, nevertheless it appeared to work. Towards Montreal, the Knights seemed complacent after taking the lead. It nearly appeared as in the event that they anticipated to win once more simply because they had been the higher group and had received so usually.
However the Canadiens hung round and took benefit of two possibilities to stun the Knights and the group. After a little bit of a sluggish begin towards the Flyers, the Knights grabbed the lead after which made certain to put the sport away by dialing up the strain and turning a lead right into a two-goal benefit after which scoring once more.
“It was nearly as if to point out, ‘You’re not coming again like Montreal did the opposite evening,’” Cassidy mentioned.
Lesson discovered.
‘Prepare for the following one’
It’s not inconceivable to be taught from a victory, however these classes develop into an increasing number of troublesome to ship.
Take into consideration your job. In the event you’re crushing it each single day and producing nice outcomes for the corporate, and but on the finish of the day, your boss is solely highlighting the stuff you’ve achieved flawed and warning you your technique isn’t going to work endlessly, you’re in all probability going to start out resenting the messenger.
“We educate after most each sport,” Cassidy mentioned. “A number of the instructing is much less and it’s extra about reinforcing the constructive when it’s going nicely. However throughout that stretch of December, there have been a lot of days the place we needed to go in and discuss, ‘That is why we didn’t get off to an excellent begin’ or ‘That is why we gave up that purpose.’ However there are positively good teachable moments while you lose.”
Cassidy is aware of his group very nicely. He believes they’ve been good at taking in classes even after wins.
“Our group isn’t going to stroll residence tonight and say they performed excellent by any means,” he mentioned after Thursday’s win. “So we’ll discuss concerning the (sluggish) first interval, transfer on and prepare for the following one.”
There wasn’t a complete lot of toe tapping throughout that reply.
Successful has that impact.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Comply with @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
