What VGK Did Wrong In Game 3 And How They Can Correct It

The Golden Knights’ performance to start Game 3 was unrecognizable compared to how they played in Dallas in the first two games of the series. They were outshot 30-10 in the first half of the game and if it weren’t for an other-worldly goaltending performance from Logan Thompson would have been trailing by five or six rather than just two.

Of course, Vegas stormed back into the game with a 4-on-4 goal followed by a shorthanded tally but never got their game going in the right direction at 5-on-5 for the entirety of the 76 minute game.

There were two main problems that plagued the Golden Knights in Game 3 and they worked hand in hand to allow the Stars to dictate a majority of the contest. First, VGK’s puck management in the neutral zone was poor. They turned the puck over on countless occasions leading directly or indirectly to transition chances the other way. This meant as the game went along they became more committed to dumping the puck into the offensive zone. That’s where problem two arose, Vegas struggled to slow down Dallas’ exits along the walls.

Combine them both, and it led to one way traffic coming at Thompson for most of the night, illustrated perfectly by a 27-4 edge in high-danger chances and 54-26 in overall scoring chances to Dallas.

They took it to us. We had no business being in that game. LT stood on his head and allowed us a chance to get back in it. We have to learn from it and have a better start in Game 4. -Brayden McNabb

The first issue is a simple one to fix. Game 3 was not the first time the Golden Knights have had puck management issues this season and typically they were able to correct it quickly. It’s the other aspect of the game that is a bit more concerning.

We have to play through their hands. There’s a lot of time we’re going up as defensemen or forwards coming back and we’re doing fly-bys. We need to close on that guy whether the D goes up and ends it and the forward reads off him and gets over the middle speed or the forward gets up and ends it because the D wasn’t able to get there in time and then the D recovers to the middle to get over their middle speed to neutralize it. -Bruce Cassidy

Here’s an example of what Cassidy is talking about.

Click for clip on mobile device.

When the puck is shot in, the first forechecker is not there in time to challenge the first Dallas pass. The second one is late to the next pass which causes the defenseman to have to come down to challenge the play along the wall. Vegas do not have enough players to neutralize the “middle speed” player (in this case DAL #95) which gives the player on the wall multiple options. He can either chip it out along the glass, which he did, or pop it into the middle and hit the “middle speed.”

We need to do a better job of having their D facing up against the glass because that’s when the physicality can come it. It’s really hard to join (the rush) when you are looking at people in the front row as opposed to what’s going on up the ice. -Cassidy

The other issue is Dallas’ goaltender.

Too many goalie handles. He plays the puck well (Jake) Oettinger in terms of getting out and stopping it. He’s effective with it and efficient. -Cassidy

On that same clip above, Oettinger goes out to get the puck and doesn’t knock it down. Had he, Dallas would have had an even easier exit. Often times during the game, he did, which allowed the Stars to exit even quicker, leading to Vegas continuing to be late at challenging the player along the wall.

It wasn’t all bad though, as there were glimpses of what VGK can do against that style of exit. Here’s an example that led to one of the Golden Knights’ best chances in the 1st period.

Click for clip on mobile device.

William Carrier worked to carry it in which helped allow all five Golden Knights to defend against the ensuing Dallas breakout. But even then, when the puck is sent deep into the zone, the Stars had the proper structure to exit along the walls. Nic Roy eliminated the quick play up to Jamie Benn (DAL #14), then when it did get to him, Carrier came flying in to force the puck back towards the goal line. An excellent forecheck by Brett Howden caused a turnover and the puck eventually made its way to Alex Pietrangelo in the low slot.

The Golden Knights have the ability to correct the problems that caused them problems in Game 3. It starts with taking care of the puck at the blue line and it ends with being quicker and harder against the exits along the walls. If the Golden Knights do it in Game 4, it will make Game 3 look like an anomaly. If they don’t, they’re going to head back to Dallas in a bit of trouble.