3. Third Time's Not the Charm
As mentioned earlier, the third period hasn't been kind to the Vegas Golden Knights this series. With only one goal throughout, it's raising questions about whether the group is winded from going hard in the earlier periods.
That would be a fair question to ask the Golden Knights. For example, the Dallas Stars dominated Game 3 offensively, with 53% of the offensive time being devoted to the Stars. That dedication has led to the Golden Knights breaking down, leaving them winded and tired. In Game 3, Vegas didn't spend much time attacking the net, leaving Wyatt Johnston to turn the series around.
Throughout the series, the Stars have controlled the offensive play. That includes expected goals (20.27 to 12.46), scoring chances (178 to 119), and high-danger chances (81-43). Overall, DeBoer's squad has taken control of the series, using their offensive depth to pound Vegas into oblivion. As a result, the Golden Knights are fortunate to be down 3-2.
The Vegas Golden Knights being bad in the third period might come from many things. It could be from a post-Stanley Cup hangover that left the team drained. It might be from the constant traveling the team's done, spanning two time zones. Or it could just be that Pete DeBoer and the Dallas Stars are leaving the Golden Knights on their heels. Add in an improving Jake Oettinger and the Stars are suddenly looking much more formidable. That's bad news for the defending champions, who might not have that prestigious title for too long.