LAS VEGAS — Here in Nevada, we celebrate statehood on Oct. 31. And in doing so, the Vegas Golden Knights traditionally play host on Nevada Day.

Friday, which also happened to be Halloween, we got to witness the ongoing spookiness that is the Golden Knights’ power play. The failure to cash in on six different opportunities led to Vegas’ ultimate demise as the Colorado Avalanche left T-Mobile Arena 4-2 winners.

The Knights’ Nevada Day record is no great shakes. With Friday’s loss, they’re 4-3-1 and even the catchy tune that is the state’s song, “Home Means Nevada” isn’t enough to spark a power play that is worse than anemic right now.

Obviously the loss of Mark Stone has severely impacted Vegas’ ability to operate with the man advantage. The Knights are just 1 for 18 on the power play since Stone left the lineup Oct. 18.

“We don’t execute,” Cassidy said. “We had a plan going into the season how we were going to work the right side. Stoney and Jack have that chemistry. We used Mitch (Marner) there because he’s a right (hand) stick.

“I still think we can manage it. We have a lot of good people there. We still have a lot to fix. Our shot selection, our execution was poor. If you don’t execute, you’re not scoring. It doesn’t matter who you have out there.”

The Knights have been slow gaining entry into the offensive zone. They also aren’t as clean when they do have possession, getting the puck to open players. Cassidy acknowledge both of those issues in his assessment of what needs to be corrected.

But almost as alarming is this team’s inability to play from the opening faceoff. Vegas finds itself chasing the game more often than it should given its talent.

“We need to start on time,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We’re getting to the point where it’s almost November. Get yourself ready to play.

“We’ve had a number of different start times this year. But at the end of the day, we weren’t ready to play tonight. Chasing Colorado — analytically, record-wise, they’re the best team in the league, you better be ready to play. We dug ourselves a hole. We were able to get out of it. But we have to start on time.”    

Friday was the beginning of a six-game homestand, an opportunity to get some wins and some confidence. But as Cassidy said, this is a team that has some issues that need to be addressed.

Yes, the injuries to Stone, to defenseman Noah Hanifin, to goaltender Adin Hill are significant. But Carl Lindbom, who made his first NHL start at home Friday, played well, despite giving up a goal to Martin Necas 41 seconds into the contest on a shot that he had no chance of stopping. He also surrendered a breakaway goal to Brock Nelson in the second period and was beaten by Brent Burns to make it 3-1 in the third after Tomas Hertl scored in a 4-on-4 situation to give Vegas a chance. So did Marner, whose fluky third-period goal off of Burns’ stick made it 3-2 with 7:59 remaining.

“He was rock solid,” Cassidy said of Lindbom, who has played well in both of his starts in Vegas despite being 0-2.

The fact is, the Knights have to play better in front of whoever is in goal for them. Forwards shirking their defensive responsibilities, defensemen not managing the puck cleanly in their end, those are the things that help get you beat.
And while the Knights are still in good shape at 6-2-3 with 15 points to lead the Pacific Division at the moment, failing to garner a point at home, even against an elite team like the Avalanche, is not what was expected.