Golden Knights lose first game when Red Wings rally in third

LAS VEGAS -- The Vegas Golden Knights lost their first game, 6-3 to the Detroit Red Wings at T-Mobile Arena on Friday.
Vegas (3-1-0), the first NHL expansion team to win its first three games, allowed four consecutive third-period goals.

WATCH: [All Red Wings vs. Golden Knights highlights]
"I think we just got sloppy with our plays in the third a little bit," Golden Knights forward James Neal said. "That's on us. I think the game was there for us to win and we didn't take advantage of it."
Gustav Nyquist scored twice, and Henrik Zetterberg had a goal and three assists for Detroit (4-1-0), which had many fans in attendance.
"It was great," Nyquist said. "It felt like it was a big party in the stands. Fans were loud. They've been able to put together a great product here it seems like, and a good team. It was a fun experience and a good first visit for our team."

Detroit, which defeated the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 on Thursday, went 3-1-0 on its four-game road trip.
"I think the start we had last night was nothing we're proud about," Zetterberg said. "I thought tonight didn't go perfect, but it was better."
Zetterberg forced a turnover in the Vegas zone and found Anthony Mantha in front of the net for the goal that made it 3-3 4:42 into the third period. Frans Nielsen made it 4-3 at 7:03.
Neal scored his sixth goal of the season for Vegas to tie the game 2-2 at 15:18 of the second period. Erik Haula's deflection at 16:45 gave the Golden Knights a 3-2 lead.
Nyquist made it 1-0 1:38 into the first period, finishing a 2-on-1 with Zetterberg. The Golden Knights tied it 1-1 8:12 into the second period on Jonathan Marchessault's first goal of the season.

Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury took an inadvertent skate to the head from Mantha midway through the second period. Fleury stayed in the game and gave up a breakaway goal to Zetterberg at 14:46 that gave Detroit a 2-1 lead.
"We knew we weren't going to be undefeated to the end," said Fleury, who made 21 saves. "But I think we showed we can play with other teams."
Nyquist made it 5-3 at 10:49 of the third period, and Luke Glendening made it 6-3 at 14:56.
Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek made 24 saves in his first win of the season.
"Petr was excellent," Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. "In the first period, he kept us in there. I thought he really played good, dug in."

Goal of the game

Zetterberg's breakaway came after Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt collided with teammate Luca Sbisa.

Save of the game

Fleury made a reaction save 44 seconds into the third period off a backhand by Mantha.

Highlight of the game

Marchessault's goal was set up by Reilly Smith, who forced a turnover in the Detroit zone and made a backhand pass.

They said it

"The most important thing is we got the win here on a back-to-back. We still have lots to learn and get better at." -- Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist

"I thought after the first goal, in the first and second period, we were the better team. We played well and we got a lead. But in the third period, for whatever reason, we stopped." -- Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant

Need to know

Neal became the first player in the NHL expansion era (1967) to score a goal in each of a team's first four games.

What's next

Red Wings: Host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; SN1, TVA Sports, FS-D, SUN, NHL.TV)
Golden Knights: Host the Boston Bruins on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; SN1, ATTSN-RM, NESN, NHL.TV)