The Vegas Golden Knights can ace their road trip starting with the Calgary Flames

When you lose a pair of home games against two playoff teams, how do you respond? Do you come out angry the next game and obliterate your opponent into oblivion? Or do you pout, lick your wounds, and go on a season-altering five-game losing streak?

These are two choices the Vegas Golden Knights will face on Saturday when they start a three-game road trip against the Calgary Flames. The Golden Knights better pick wisely because their playoff fate rests in those three games. They have divisional opponents behind by three and five points, respectively, heading into Friday. Can't let those Los Angeles Kings start to invade Golden Knights territory, you know (or Oilers)?

Bruce Cassidy knows how those last two games went. Let's say he's not thrilled, to put it lightly.

"I am concerned. This isn't a one-off. We should be prepared to play. We should have responded well (after the loss to Edmonton)."

Bruce Cassidy

Being 1-5-1 against teams expected to make the playoffs since January 24 doesn't help, either. Suddenly, fans are panicking and mass hysteria has broken out in Las Vegas.

"What will Sin City do if Vegas doesn't clinch the Pacific Division?"

Luckily, the Flames aren't one of those playoff teams right now. They're on the outside looking in, gasping with their dying breaths. This presents a "golden" opportunity for the Golden Knights to put those worries to rest for Cassidy and company. How, you ask?

How the Vegas Golden Knights can defeat the Calgary Flames on Saturday

The Vegas Golden Knights have had problems escaping the neutral zone in the last two games. They've mustered only 48 shots combined and have 32 giveaways in that span. Defeating the Calgary Flames starts with taking care of the puck and establishing offensive dominance.

That's especially true with the Golden Knights only scoring two first-period goals in their last five games. It's been an on/off issue for the team throughout the season, mind you.

Some games, they score two or three. Others, they muster five shots on goal like they did on Thursday.

This is important since the Flames have the fifth-most takeaways in the NHL this season (402). They're an aggressive forechecking team led by MacKenzie Weegar (46 takeaways) and can destroy you in transition. Therefore, puck management is a must if you want to give Bruce Cassidy peace of mind.

It's not just the Flames the Golden Knights should worry about, though

The Colorado Avalanche are on the tail-end of the three-game road trip and have a similar forecheck. They've generated 390 takeaways this season (seventh in the NHL) and are more dangerous in transition. In fact, it's become their whole identity.

When you have Cale Makar (55 takeaways, second-most in the NHL), Charlie Coyle (41 takeaways, tied for 15th), and Brock Nelson (36 takeaways, 21st in the league) all trying to strip the puck from you, that's troublesome. Add in Hart Trophy frontrunner Nathan MacKinnon to the mix and life becomes much harder.

Therefore, one theme will put Bruce Cassidy's worries to rest: Puck control. It's something that's plagued the Golden Knights throughout the season (1,189, seventh-most in the NHL). Luckily, Cassidy's group can turn the tables on the Flames on Saturday since that's also a problem area (1,179, eighth-most).

If that happens, expect one of the league's best offensive attacks (3.35 goals per game, tied for fifth in the NHL) to capitalize. Cassidy and the Golden Knights shouldn't discount a desperate team trying to cling to any hope for a playoff spot. However, they can effectively end those dreams by protecting the puck and turning that strategy on its head. Heck, that strategy doesn't have to be a "one-off" either.