Coaches typically don’t like to mess with a winning lineup. When a team is successful, you might see a few small tweaks here and there. Unless there’s an injury, you usually won’t see any drastic changes. 

Right now, the Vegas Golden Knights aren’t winning. They’ve lost four in a row; in their last 17 games, they have won just five.

That means it’s time for a drastic lineup change.

The Golden Knights host the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night. Line rushes at morning skate indicated that Cole Reinhardt and Alexander Holtz would enter the lineup, replacing veterans Reilly Smith and Brandon Saad.

In 24 games this season, Smith has three goals and six points; Saad has just one goal and four points. Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy admitted that performance played a factor in his decision to scratch Smith and Saad.

“It’s performance-related, at times,” said Cassidy. “Saader and Smitty haven’t really played [the fourth line] role, but if they’re going to stay in, one of them goes down there. Howie’s a fit there, but then we’d have a hole at center; Howie has to play center. So, that’s a bit of circumstance. I’d say it’s a bit of both.”

Smith and Saad have underperformed this season. However, Cassidy also credited Reinhardt and Holtz, praising Holtz’s work ethic and Reinhardt’s game.

“You can make an argument that Reinhardt didn’t deserve to come out of the lineup, especially in the role he’s playing,” Cassidy said. “I think Reinhardt has played well in the fourth line role. He’s had some good looks, been physical, and drawn penalties. With Holtz, he’s been working hard, waiting his turn. I figured, ‘Well, we’ll do both at once. It’s three games in four days. Let’s see if it gives us a little bit of a spark in that area of the lineup.’”

Cassidy spoke to Smith and Saad about the lineup decision before morning skate.

“The message to them is, they’ve played well at times, okay at times, so we’re going to give the other two guys a shot. We know they’re veteran guys that came here because they want another shot at a Stanley Cup, and we’re not taking that away from them. It’s one game in November. We feel like maybe we’ll get a little juice from some of these younger legs.”