TEAM EDITORIAL

The Vegas Golden Knights are 1-1-0 to begin the 2026-27 regular season, offering both encouragement and a familiar concern. They opened with a convincing 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks but then fell 4-3 to the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena after surrendering a four-goal deficit. Vegas mounted a spirited late rally, outshooting Anaheim 13-6 in the third period and scoring three times, but the slow start proved too costly.

That pattern has become an early focus around the team. Coach Ryan Craig has emphasized that improvement begins with avoiding the need to chase games, an especially relevant message for a roster built around high-end talent and postseason expectations. Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Ivan Barbashev, Mitch Marner and Tomas Hertl give Vegas substantial offensive skill and experience, while Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson anchor an accomplished defensive group. Carter Hart started the loss to Anaheim, and goaltending consistency will remain central as the season develops.

The Knights’ immediate test is a regular-season road game against the Vancouver Canucks on October 4. Vancouver is also 1-1-0 and has scored 13 goals in its opening two games, making Vegas’s defensive discipline particularly important. The Golden Knights have shown resilience, but their next step is turning late comebacks into complete performances.