VGK Takeaways: Penguins Relentless, Thompson Brilliant

Another rough second period and an inability to play with a lead cost the Vegas Golden Knights their Thursday night game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, in which they lost 4-3.

The Golden Knights were only three shots away from breaking a not-so-coveted record of most shots allowed in a game. The VGK allowed 47 shots against the Penguins, with the team record being 49. Logan Thompson stopped 43 of 47 shots but lost his fifth game of the season.

They will continue their four-game road trip Saturday evening against the Detroit Red Wings at 4:00 p.m

Golden Knights Takeaways

Letting Logan Down

With two young goaltenders in net who have no experience of being starters in the NHL, the message in the Golden Knights locker room has been to defend well in front of Logan Thompson and Adin Hill. 

"We have to do better in front of them. They are young guys. We have a veteran D-corps that has played in the league. We have to get some of that squared away," said head coach Bruce Cassidy.

The Golden Knights allowed a season-high 47 shots on goal Thursday and left Logan Thompson out to dry. The rookie goaltender fought hard but was unable to steal the game for the VGK, with defensive turnovers costing the Golden Knights the game.

The Golden Knights have been without stalwart defenseman Alex Pietrangelo for the last two games due to personal reasons. This has taken a toll on the team’s defense, with D-partners being switched up as the team's no. 1 minute eater is out of the lineup.

The Penguins forecheck dominated the Golden Knight's defense and pinned them in their own zone for extended periods of time, tiring them out and then generating scoring chances.

“They were harder on pucks than us. They played behind us all night. We didn't handle their pressure below the goal line very well. That's a combination of the D not being able to separate and move the puck north and then some wall battles," said Cassidy.

Another Awful Second

For whatever reason, the Golden Knight's worst period this season has been their second periods by far. In their first game of the road trip, they blew a 2-0 lead to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and they did the same against the Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday night.

Head coach Bruce Cassidy states that he wants the Golden Knights to do a better job playing with the lead and recognizing that other teams are going to push back.

“Recognize it. We're in Pittsburgh; they are Stanley Cup Champions, down 2-0 and having an uneven year. They are going to come and have a push. We have some veteran guys in the room that have to say that it is coming and to make sure that we are ready,” said Cassidy.

The Golden Knights have been outscored 20-26 in the third period this season.

Full Bubble Eichel

Nicolas Hague accidentally hit Jack Eichel in the face with a shot in the Golden Knight's shootout win on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The shot hit him in the left eye. He left the game but returned for overtime and the shootout.

Eichel told media members that he was unsure if he would be able to play Thursday against the Penguins, as he stated his eye was having trouble staying open.

But with a black eye and ten stitches to his face, Eichel managed to play against the Penguins in a full-bubble helmet Thursday. Eichel is no stranger to wearing the "fishbowl," as he wore a full bubble when he played college hockey at Boston University.

In the Golden Knight's loss, he had a goal and an assist for two points.