It has been a bit of a bumpy ride for the Vegas Golden Knights lately. Coming off a recent 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, March 8, the team is facing some adversity as they push toward the 2026 playoffs. Here are the key storylines and upcoming schedule for the week of March 9-16, 2026.
A Quiet Trade Deadline
Instead of making a blockbuster splash, General Manager Kelly McCrimmon focused on bolstering the bottom-six forward group. The Knights acquired veteran defensive center Nic Dowd from the Washington Capitals (in exchange for goaltender Jesper Vikman and two draft picks) alongside forward Cole Smith from the Nashville Predators.
Dowd is expected to provide crucial penalty-killing and center depth.
Sliding in the Standings
The Golden Knights have lost five of their last six games. Their recent loss to the Oilers officially knocked them out of first place in the Pacific Division. They currently sit in second place with a 29-21-14 record (72 points), trailing the Anaheim Ducks (73 points) and feeling the heat from Edmonton (70 points).
Center Depth and Injuries
The Dowd acquisition was highly necessary because Vegas has been dealing with long-term injuries down the middle. William Karlsson has been ruled out for the season, which has recently forced winger Mitch Marner to play out of position at center. Mark Stone is also currently on injured reserve.
Bright Spots on the Roster
Despite the team’s struggles, individual players are having great seasons. Jack Eichel leads the team with 71 points (22 goals, 49 assists), and Mitch Marner is right behind him with 65 points. Additionally, Pavel Dorofeyev recently hit the 30-goal mark, becoming the first player in franchise history to score 30 goals in consecutive seasons.
Upcoming Schedule Outlook
The Golden Knights have a crucial three-game stretch this week to try to right the ship. They start on the road against a tough Central Division opponent before returning to T-Mobile Arena for a two-game homestand.
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (EDT) |
| Tuesday, Mar. 10 | Dallas Stars | American Airlines Center (Away) | 8:00 PM |
| Thursday, Mar. 12 | Pittsburgh Penguins | T-Mobile Arena (Home) | 10:00 PM |
| Saturday, Mar. 14 | Chicago Blackhawks | T-Mobile Arena (Home) | 10:00 PM |
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