Rangers 6, Golden Knights 4: 3 Takeaways

It started well.
Really well.
The Golden Knights led 4-2 through two periods. The Golden Knights were carrying the play, Maxime Lagace was filling in admirably in goal and it looked like a game Vegas was going to win.
Then it didn't end well.
Four Rangers third-period goals flipped the script of this game, as New York won 6-4 to drop Vegas' record to 8-3-0. This also gives the Golden Knights consecutive losses for the first time in team history.
Here are three immediate takeaways from tonight's game.

1. Couldn't finish
The Golden Knights led 4-2 tonight heading into the third period. And lost 6-4.
Last night, Vegas led 2-1 late in the second period against the Islanders. And lost 6-3.
Even when the Golden Knights lost to the Detroit Red Wings, they led 3-2 heading into the third period before losing 6-3.
For a team that's now 8-3-0, there is an obvious theme here. That is that while the Golden Knights have led in every game they've played, there's been difficulty closing teams out.
Same story tonight.
Vegas had control of it, and it slipped away.

2. Maxime Lagace
On Halloween night, Lagace was a bit of Jekyll and Hyde.
Making his first NHL start, Lagace was outstanding in the first two periods, stopping 25 of 27 shots. But similar as Monday night in Brooklyn, when he came on in relief in the second period, he had a weak third period.
Lagace stopped only seven of 10 in the third period, with the final Rangers goal come into an empty net.
A lot of questions were asked about how the Golden Knights' FOURTH goalie would play.
And the answers were mixed.
He was very much Dr. Jekyll early in the game. But the end is a result he'd probably like to Hyde.

3. Reilly Smith gets some credit
For team for which the storylines have been dominated by goalie injuries and James Neal's scoring heroics, Reilly Smith has largely flown below the radar. This is despite some teammates having referred to him as this team's MVP this season.
Smith entered the night with a pair of goals and five assists in seven games.

Playing on a line with William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault tonight, Smith broke out, scoring twice, each time giving Vegas the lead.
For a player who has sometimes flown below the radar, Tuesday was a nice way for him to garner a little more of the spotlight.

And even if the Golden Knights didn't win, Smith's performance continues to be promising. Under contract for five more years, no player is currently slated to play for Vegas longer than Smith.