(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

It seems like almost every Golden Knights game this season comes down to the wire. Whether they are up a goal or trailing, in many matchups this season, it’s taken 60+ minutes to earn their victory or a lone overtime loss point. It’s been the case for four out of the first five games Vegas has suited up in December. So far, the local team has a point in all four. One of the reasons for their six-game point streak is their habit of finding the big goal in the final frame.

This season, the Golden Knights have the 7th-most goals in the 3rd period. Vegas has also allowed the 4th least goals in the final period, which sets them up for a minimum of one point. Instead of losing nine times in the last 20 minutes, the Golden Knights are walking away with one-point consolation prizes.

Teams With The Most 3rd Period Goals

Dallas Stars – 43
Colorado Avalanche – 42
Chicago Blackhawks – 42
Washington Capitals – 39
Boston Bruins – 38
Utah Mammoth – 38
Vegas Golden Knights – 36
Toronto Maple Leafs – 36
Carolina Hurricanes – 36
Pittsburgh Penguins – 36

Out of those ten teams, eight are currently sitting in a playoff position. The Golden Knights are comfortably six points above the cut line, and their 3rd period success is a main reason why.

Currently, the Golden Knights are allowing 0.86 goals in the 3rd period. They are scoring 1.24 goals per final frame, which in hockey can be a sizable difference in a game.

Teams Allowing The Fewest 3rd Period Goals

Colorado Avalanche – 15
Philadelphia Flyers – 18
Los Angeles Kings – 23
Vegas Golden Knights – 25
Pittsburgh Penguins – 26
Washington Capitals – 27
Seattle Kraken – 28
Toronto Maple Leafs – 29
Dallas Stars – 30
Tampa Bay Lightning – 30

Obviously, the Colorado Avalanche are on a different level than the rest of the league right now. The Avs goal differential in the final 20 minutes is +27; the Golden Knights are in 4th with a +11 goal differential. In the long run, scoring differential can tell the story about a team’s season.

Now, the flip side to Vegas’ 3rd period success is the lack of scoring in the first two periods of a game. While the Golden Knights are scoring the 8th most goals in the opening period, they’re tied for dead last in the league in 2nd period scoring.

VGK Scoring Per Period Rank

1st Period Goals: 29 (8th)
2nd Period Goals: 23 (32nd)
3rd Period Goals: 36 (7th)
Overtime Goals: 3 (11th)

If the Golden Knights were able to increase production in the middle 20 minutes, they’re more likely to carry over a lead into the final period. It’s important to note that when the Golden Knights lead after 40 minutes, they are 9-0-0.

Courtesy of Hockey-Reference.com

It’s time for coach Bruce Cassidy to relay to his group this simple message: ‘Enough with the OTLs. Just score in the 2nd and win in the 3rd.’