Fixing the Vegas Golden Knights' Third-Period Woes
The Vegas Golden Knights are in a freefall. What must the team do to address their woes, specifically in the third period?
1. The Vegas Golden Knights Must Play With Urgency
When head coach Bruce Cassidy was asked about the team's current state after Thursday's breakdown against Calgary, Cassidy stated the following.
"I'd like to see them have some urgency and realize it's not an automatic that we're gonna get a chance to repeat. You gotta earn your way in."
🎥 Cassidy: I sense a complete lack of urgency in those key moments and games get away from us. pic.twitter.com/7PQz6DT4m8
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 15, 2024
Even in the two Vegas Golden Knights victories against Detroit and Seattle, Vegas allowed five third-period goals in those two games. The lack of urgency on their end has caused trade deadline sellers to have some hope, inspiring the competition to go for the gusto.
If the Golden Knights want to better themselves in the final period, it starts with understanding that nothing's given. Vegas must EARN their playoff spot, which will cut the mistakes down and help the group come playoff time.
2. Less Vegas Golden Knights Turnovers
The Vegas Golden Knights have given the puck away 57 times in their past ten games. Careless puck control has led to game-changing goals for the opposition, swinging the game away from the Golden Knights.
This problem has gone on much longer, though. Take the February 17 game against the Carolina Hurricanes, for example. Carolina's go-ahead goal from Seth Jarvis was a short-handed goal, where a mishandled puck from Daniil Miromanov led to a scoring opportunity. If Miromanov handles that puck correctly, the game's still tied and Vegas isn't feeling "no bueno."
In fact, better puck handling is a must for the Vegas Golden Knights. On Calgary winger Matt Coronato's goal, Michael Amadio had a chance to keep the puck in the offensive zone. With a little more urgency, that goal doesn't happen.
3. Stay Out of the Box
In the three Vegas Golden Knights victories in their past ten games, the Golden Knights have averaged 4.67 penalty minutes. In the seven losses, Vegas averages 5.57 penalty minutes.
When the Golden Knights take many penalties, it derails any hope of victory. In Vegas's loss to Calgary, Nicolas Hague was called for interference on Nazem Kadri. What happened after? A power play onslaught where Adin Hill was pressured. Although the penalty was killed, the Flames persisted, with Yegor Sharangovich scoring the game-tying goal shortly after.
Granted, the Golden Knights were lucky to lead that game. However, staying out of the penalty box goes a long way in winning games. In this case, it's better to be a "saint" than a "sinner" (unless that team's the New Jersey Devils. It's in the namesake, after all).
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