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Vegas Golden Knights: Dominance In Second Period and Overtime Leading to Success

By Richard Cardinale

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 27: (L-R) Oscar Lindberg #24, Tomas Nosek #92, Luca Sbisa #47 and Deryk Engelland #5 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the game at T-Mobile Arena on October 27, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 27: (L-R) Oscar Lindberg #24, Tomas Nosek #92, Luca Sbisa #47 and Deryk Engelland #5 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the game at T-Mobile Arena on October 27, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Vegas Golden Knights have been unbeatable in the second period of games this season.

No one expected the Vegas Golden Knights to start the season 8-1-0. This hockey club is just clicking on all cylinders. Vegas just ended a seven-game homestand on a terrific note defeating the Colorado Avalanche by a score of 7-0.

Additionally, third-string goaltender Oscar Dansk earned the first shutout in Vegas Golden Knights history. He stopped all 32 shots he faced on Friday evening. Who would’ve thought this unknown netminder would be making significant contributions to the Golden Knights this season?

But this current run has a lot more to do with the offense than the goaltending. Not to discount what Marc-Andre Fleury, Malcolm Subban, and Dansk have done for this squad but the Golden Knights are on a tear offensively. So I dug deeper into some stats that I’ve found very interesting.

I was looking at the goal differentials during the first and third period, and Vegas ranks in the middle of the pack. However, the Golden Knights rank first in goal differential at +13 in the second period. Keep in mind that its only been nine games into this young campaign. They’re also 3-0 in games going to overtime this year.

What’s the reason for the success? Not even Head Coach Gerard Gallant knows. Let me try my best to put my finger on it. The second period and overtime differ from the first and third period in a big way.

In the middle frame, both teams must switch ends meaning teams have to make the long change. For instance, its harder for the defending team to clear the puck and make a line change in the second period than it is in the first and third. It’s even crazier in overtime.

Related Story: The Vegas Golden Knights Fourth Line Has Been Incredible.

Not only do you have to deal with a long change, but it’s also three on three for five minutes meaning tons of open ice. Furthermore, three on three is always back and forth, and luckily the Golden Knights have a lot of success in that facet of the game.

I may not have the number one reason why they have a lot of success in the second period and overtime, but I think the team speed the Golden Knights posses is critical. Think about it. Players like Erik Haula, Jonathan Marchessault, David Perron, Brendan Leipsic, Reilly Smith and William Karlsson are all players that bring more than exceptional speed. Here’s Perron’s goal during the second frame of Friday nights tilt versus the Avalanche:

The speed that Perron displays on this goal doesn’t fully explain my reasoning. He took advantage of a bad turnover at the blue line. But perhaps this play is a bit of a better example. Here we have Smith and Karlsson turning on the jets for a two on one with Smith making a beauty of a pass to Karlsson for the game-winner against the Blues.

Next: Do The Vegas Golden Knights Have Too Many Defensemen?

All in all, the speed and acceleration of this Golden Knights squad is top notch. If they can take advantage of mistakes and turnovers,  the Golden Knights will have the edge in skating over most teams. The old saying is “Speed Kills, ” and the Vegas Golden Knights are proving just that.

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