Knights trying to fight out of slump

— After yet another frustrating loss to an opponent hovering around the bottom of the standings, Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy publicly criticized his team Monday night for a lack of effort.

Vegas lost by a combined 13-5 at Buffalo (third from the bottom in the Atlantic Division) and at Columbus (last in the Metropolitan) to end a trip in which the Knights went 1-3-1 to continue their slide. They are 2-7-1 in their past 10 games.

Cassidy didn’t back off his comments Wednesday, but made the point he was referring specifically to those losses to the Sabres and Blue Jackets and not necessarily the season as a whole. He was asked what his level of concern was for the defending Stanley Cup champions with 20 games left in the season.

“Well, let’s see tomorrow,” Cassidy said, referring to a home game tonight against Pacific Division leader Vancouver. “Is this going to continue, or are we putting the brakes on this and getting going here? We’re eighth (in the Western Conference), so the next spot, you’re out of the playoffs.”

Cassidy pointed to the past two seasons as examples of how differently a season can end.

The Knights missed the playoffs two years ago after a series of injuries and a late-season slide. They won the championship last season by bouncing back from a slump that occurred before the All-Star break.

With 73 points, Vegas is tied with Los Angeles for the third and final spot in the Pacific and the Kings and Nashville for a potential wild card slot in the

Western Conference. There is some cushion, though, with contenders Seattle and St. Louis each at 67 points and at this moment out of the postseason picture.

The Knights, who have a history of being big buyers at the trade deadline, already have made a move by dealing for winger Anthony Mantha from Washington.

Mantha will skate in practice this morning and likely play on William Karlsson’s line against the Canucks.

Mantha has 20 goals this season, the first time he has reached that figure since 2019. He said he went into this season with something to prove.

“I’ve been shooting the puck,” Mantha said. “In the last couple of years, I’ve kind of stayed away from it, but I feel like this year I have to let it go and it’s been working out.”