Fixing the Vegas Golden Knights' Third-Period Woes

The Vegas Golden Knights have this habit where they're either tied or are clinging onto a lead. Heading into the third period, everything's fine and dandy. That is, until...

*Goal horn sounds*

Their opponent scores a goal. Then...

*Goal horn sounds*

Their opponent gets another. Then...

*Goal horn sounds*

Their opponent establishes a full momentum swing. This pattern has gone on for the past couple of weeks, making life miserable for the Vegas Golden Knights. It's caused teams like the Minnesota Wild to crawl back into the playoff race, hurting the Golden Knights.

In fact, the Golden Knights have allowed 16 third-period goals in the past six games. Such collapses have caused Vegas to miss out on valuable points, hurting themselves in the Western Conference playoff race. Take Calgary's 4-1 victory over the Golden Knights on Thursday as an example. The Calgary Flames were down, 1-0, in the second period before responding with four unanswered goals in the third period.

With teams like the Wild inching closer to the Golden Knights, what are the three things Vegas must change? How can the Golden Knights address this issue before matters get... too wild?

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."

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.