FACT: The Vegas Golden Knights have essentially mirrored their record from last season, when they were 11-6-1 by this time.

Unfortunately, everything is backwards in a mirror, and this team currently stands at 7-11-1.

The fans that ride games out through their “gut-feeling” wonder where the magic went. The more “analytical” fans wonder why a roster that was touted as an improvement on last year’s “Golden Misfits” squad has a record that makes thinking even a month into the future a risky proposition.

To be fair, some of the magic is gone — that is undeniable.

Coach Gallant claims the team doesn’t have enough fire.

Max Pacioretty says the team lacks a killer instinct.

And, for those analytical fans — leading scorer Jonathan Marchessault sees the team missing a second effort.

It’s quite the contrast when juxtaposed with last year’s near miraculous season.

Such is the ebb and flow of the sport of hockey — where luck matters more than any other sport. “Puck luck” is the difference between getting a sure one-timer goal cleanly on your stick tape just before burying it in the back of the net, and that same pass being a jumping puck that’s rolling on edge just before it dribbles to the goalie because it couldn’t be shot properly.

The Golden Knights are definitely getting the short end of the stick when it comes to puck luck, and it’s been obvious to the most casual of fans. Games that would have been blowouts last season — where Vegas outplays their opponent for the majority of the game — have not just turned into narrow victories, but outright losses. No OT consolation points to pile up, nothing. Just disappointment and a lot of confused fans.

On paper, this team is a better lineup than it was last year. While that’s something to celebrate, it’s not something that shows up on the score sheet, or more importantly the wins column on it’s own, especially when the players comprising the (admittedly alleged) improvement aren’t playing.