LAS VEGAS (AP) — The goals suddenly aren't coming for the Golden Knights, which means the losses are as they embark on a four-game trip.
Vegas has scored 11 goals in five games, losing four of them, including Friday's 5-2 defeat to New Jersey. Only six of those goals came 5 on 5.
It's a surprising power outage for a team loaded with All-Stars from Jack Eichel to Mitch Marner to Mark Stone.
“We are creating some opportunities,” coach Ryan Craig said. “We haven't finished as well. We haven't played with a lead as much as we did earlier. So it could be those things force you to squeeze your stick a little bit. We shouldn't be concerned about that part of our game because when we do manage the puck and we do check, we create enough (opportunities), they're going to go in.”
Finding the back of the net certainly wasn't a challenge when Vegas opened the season 8-2. The Golden Knights scored 41 goals in those 10 games, 29 at even strength.
But then came the struggles. Take away the 4-1 victory over Ottawa on Tuesday night, the Golden Knights had just seven goals in the four losses, though one was in overtime. Even against the Senators, only one goal came at 5 on 5; two were empty-netters and another on a power play.
The Golden Knights don't seem overly concerned, and out of an 84-game schedule, a five-game dry spell is a small sample size.
“We've got to play better, that's for sure, but we have a really good team,” forward Ivan Barbashev said. “A lot of the players have been in the league for many years. We've got to figure it out and get out of this slump. We'll be better.”
Vegas spent most of the early season in first place in the Pacific Division, but Edmonton now is a point ahead of them. Each team has represented the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final twice in the past four years, so the chances of them battling it out for the division seem fairly high.
The Golden Knights soon leave on a trip that begins Monday night at Boston and continues to Pittsburgh, Detroit and Buffalo.
Breaking out of a scoring drought isn't easy anywhere, but especially challenging on the road.
“It's completing passes. It's stacking shifts,” Craig said. “Can you build off that? Can you get back to work when it doesn't go your way? I think our execution from the last 10 days maybe hasn't been at the level we needed it to be. We're going to get on the ice (Saturday) and we're going to touch it before we head east, so for me, it's an opportunity to continue to push through.”
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Vegas Golden Knights left wing Ivan Barbashev (49) celebrates after scoring past New Jersey Devils goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) — The health of the jobs market, along with updates on several areas of the economy and corporate profits, will fill the calendar this week.
The latest updates also arrive as Americans head to the polls for the Nov. 3 midterm elections that could reshape Congress as inflation continues squeezing households.
Here’s a look at some of the key reports coming in the week ahead.
Several reports this week will provide updates on various aspects of the jobs market, which has remained a relatively resilient part of the economy as stubbornly hot inflation burns household budgets. On Tuesday, the Labor Department will release its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for September, providing details on job openings and layoffs for a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, retail and manufacturing. Job openings have remained in a relatively stable range throughout the year and economists expect the most recent report to show a slight rise.
The weekly update on unemployment claims, which are a proxy for layoffs, will be released on Thursday. The closely-watched monthly employment report will be released on Friday. That report will detail hiring by employers during October for a range of industries and sectors. Economists expect little change in hiring from September's disappointing update. Revisions have also shaved more jobs from prior monthly reports.
The weaker employment market adds more worries to an economy already under pressure from inflation. It also makes the Federal Reserve's job more complicated. The central bank is expected to raise its benchmark interest rate again before the year ends in an effort to cool inflation. But it also has a goal of seeking maximum employment, and higher rates that slow economic growth tend to hurt the jobs market.
Monthly reports from the Institute for Supply Management have shown that the overall economy is expanding. That trend for slight growth is expected to have continued in October. The manufacturing report will be released on Monday, while the report on the more economically influential services sector will be released on Wednesday.
The reports also include commentary from businesses on the conditions they are facing and higher costs have dominated their concerns. Many businesses are facing more stress over operations and planning because of inflation driven by an erratic U.S. trade conflict with much of the world and the surging price of oil driven by the U.S. war with Iran. The trade conflict has increased costs for a wide range of materials, while making it difficult for businesses to plan ahead amid the constantly shifting U.S. trade policy.
The U.S. war with Iran has been ongoing since February and has essentially shut down the vital Strait of Hormuz and stifled global oil shipments. That has fueled a leap in gas prices, making shipping more expensive for everything from food to clothing. The main driver for much of the inflation facing households and businesses stems from rising fuel costs.
Corporate earnings from a wide range of businesses this week will help add more detail to the bigger economic picture. Companies focused on travel, technology and clothing are all set to report profits for their most recent quarter and provide forecasts for the rest of the year and beyond.
Nearly half of the companies in the S&P 500 have already reported their latest financial results and Wall Street is currently expecting profits to rise by 30% overall.
Clorox, the maker of bleach and other household staples, will report its results on Monday. Big Tech companies Advanced Micro Devices and Super Micro Computer will report their results on Tuesday. Online travel company Booking Holdings will also report on Tuesday, followed by rival Expedia on Wednesday. Clothing and accessories makers Tapestry and Ralph Lauren will report their results on Thursday.
A hiring sign is seen in Chicago, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
An employee works at the Escape Game Room in Chicago, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
