The Edmonton Oilers have been like a Jekyll and Hyde experiment this postseason. They've been relatively quiet in the first two periods, only to erupt in the third. How, you ask? Well, they've outscored their opponents 17-6 in the third period during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Vegas Golden Knights got a taste of Mr. Hyde on Tuesday night, where the Oilers scored three unanswered goals to win, 4-2. Leon Draisaitl (aka the "Usual Scoring Suspect"), Zach Hyman, and Connor Brown led a blitz through T-Mobile Arena to silence the Las Vegas crowd.
Having seven shots in the final 40 minutes won't get the job done, either. That's what led to Edmonton's record-breaking fifth straight comeback during the Stanley Cup playoffs. If trends like this continue during the series, it'll be a premature sendoff to the casinos for the Golden Knights (or Vancouver).
With that, it's time to diagnose Vegas's problems with playing a full 60 minutes, specifically in the third period. It became apparent during the series against the Minnesota Wild (think Game 4), where the team wasn't holding onto a lead firmly. But it seems that the problem has reared its ugly head again. So get your scalpels and your surgeon's gloves on and dig deeper into this problem!
How the Vegas Golden Knights can stop the Edmonton Oilers in the third period
When you have Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid on your team, anything is possible. The Edmonton Oilers know they can storm back in any game and make matters interesting. Just ask the Los Angeles Kings, who fell victim to the Oilers and their comeback ways.
However, that doesn't mean the Oilers are unbeatable. Just look at what happened in the first two games of that previous series, specifically Game 2. After Viktor Arvidsson scored with 13:55 left in the third period, the Kings immediately went on the attack. A mixture of better zone entries, an aggressive forecheck, and power play magic got Los Angeles a 6-2 win.
That's what the Vegas Golden Knights desperately need in their own Game 2 (and beyond). They can't let Edmonton eat up all the offensive zone time. That means making them work constantly and ensuring they're the aggressors instead of the Oilers.
In the first period, it looked like that was the case. Leon Draisaitl had two giveaways and was having trouble handling the puck. However, a quiet offensive front breathed life and gave way for Draisaitl and company to turn the tables.
That starts with better balance and play on the Golden Knights end
Let's be honest. The last two goals of Game 1 weren't pretty. A long-range pass that led to Zach Hyman finishing is almost equivalent to a war crime. Watching Shea Theodore have his pants pulled down by Connor Brown en route to the final goal is no better.
Such plays wouldn't happen if the Golden Knights simply dictated the pace. That means entering the offensive zone at every turn and ensuring that the Oilers don't have anything offensively to work with.
Edmonton doesn't have the best goaltending, nor do they have a solid defense. Vegas learned they can get some goals if they kept attacking Filip Gustavsson in the previous round. Why not test Calvin Pickard some more and make him work for his saves?
Luckily, one game doesn't decide an entire series. However, trends can carry over and suffocate a team's championship hopes. For the Golden Knights, that starts with winning the third period and being the aggressor.