Golden Knights Takeaways: Third Period Collapse, Home Record Struggles

The Vegas Golden Knights are having trouble winning at home. The team is now 7-6 at T-Mobile Arena and six of their eight losses have also come at home. Another loss was handed to the VGK as they were defeated 5-1 by the New York Rangers on Wednesday. 

Here are Vegas Hockey Now's Takeaways from the game.

Third Period Collapse

The Rangers scored four goals in the third period as the Golden Knights mismanaged the puck and let the game get away from them. At the end of the second period, things were trending in the right direction for the team after they were outplayed in the first period. Jonathan Marchessault tied the game, and Keegan Kolesar got the team some momentum fighting Barclay Goodrow.

"We put ourselves in a good position to get back in the game after the second period; then we mismanaged the puck… We allowed their best player to get a shot that we specifically had in the game plan not to. We had a breakdown in coverage," said head coach Bruce Cassidy, referring to Mika Zibanejad who scored twice in the third period from the same spot.

"We weren't very good at managing the puck in the third, and good teams are going to shove that up your a** when that happens," added Cassidy.

Thompson Shows Frustration

Logan Thompson's stats will take a hit after he allowed five goals on 37 shots Wednesday night. But most of these goals were not his fault. The Golden Knight's defense and penalty kill put him in a bad spot to keep up his Calder Trophy campaign. Thompson battled all night with multiple great saves.

After Zibanejad's second goal, he showed his frustration by breaking his goal stick above the crossbar.

Home Record

The best road team in the NHL is having trouble winning at home. The Golden Knights have six of their next eight games at home and will have to adjust to whatever seems to be troubling them at T-Mobile Arena.

"Sometimes it is just the way it goes. Maybe after Christmas, it might just switch you never know. It is just one of those things that it doesn't matter if we play at home or away I think we are professional hockey players, and we have to find a way to bring out the best performance," said Jonathan Marchessault.

Coach Cassidy mentioned how the team frequently started strong on the road but trailed in home games such as the one tonight.

"On the road, we have got the lead almost all the time. And that's a difference right there. You're playing a different game, and the team starts pressing. They're at home, and all of a sudden you extend the lead. Our game management is better on the road," said Cassidy.

Chippiness

There were a couple of moments in Wednesday night's game that got fans out of their seats as some extracurriculars arose.

Obviously, Keegan Kolesar and Barclay Goodrow fought at center ice. But there was also the cross-check on Mark Stone from Ryan Lindgren, that Jonathan Marchessault didn't like.

"I didn't necessarily like the way it went, their game. I didn't like (Ryan) Lindgren doing a dirty play on Stoney (Mark Stone) there I think it is dirty. I definitely would like some commitment from our group to get those situations under control," said Marchessault.

Chandler Stephenson also left the game late in the third with a 10-minute game misconduct.

"You have to find a way to keep your emotions in check. But sometimes, I get it when it seems like it's over. But we need them on the ice. So do I have a problem with it? No, I have a problem with the other parts of the game more than that… Let's correct things before that, so we are not in a position to be upset," said Cassidy.