LAS VEGAS — Given the current landscape in the NHL, a team can give up four goals in a Stanley Cup playoff game and its coach can still feel like it had «defensive success.» That was Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy's point in using those words while offering his assessment of his team after a 6-4 win Wednesday night against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
He wasn't trying to deflect questions about Vegas' blue-line play. Nor was he attempting to take anything away from the individual who scored all four Edmonton goals, superstar center Leon Draisaitl.
All Cassidy was saying is what constitutes defensive success in the NHL these days is a more nuanced concept than most might believe.
And he's not the only person associated with either the Golden Knights or Oilers who is making the same point. «For us, in the end, we're about the end result in the playoffs.