This is UrbanDictionary.com’s definition of the word clutch.
Exactly what you need, exactly when you need it.
In the last few seconds of a close game, only a player with ‘clutch’ can lead the team to victory. -Urban Dictionary

He doesn’t even really have to try anymore. The other teams are just giving him 3rd period goals now. (Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
Or in other words, Erik Haula.
As we all watched on Tuesday night as Vegas ripped a game away from Calgary, Haula continued to be one of the Golden Knights top third-period performers. In the last frame, the 26-year-old center has three game-winning goals, three game-tying goals, and two empty-net goals. Those are cluth numbers for an entire season, let alone with 34 games to go.
Haula’s Third Period Scoring Summary: 17 Points (13 Goals, 6 Assists)
11/04/17 @ Ottawa: Scores game-winning PP goal (6:47)
11/16/17 @ Vancouver: Scored game-winning goal (6:27)
12/05/17 vs Anaheim: Scored game-tying goal (15:38)
12/08/17 @ Nashville: Scored game-tying goal (19:20)
12/09/17 @ Dallas: Scored empty-net goal (19:17)
12/17/17 vs Florida: Scored game-winning goal (11:40)
12/19/17 vs Tampa Bay: *Assist on Shea Theodore’s game-winning goal (19:57)
1/23/18 vs Columbus: Scored empty-net goal (18:58)
1/30/18 @ Calgary: Scored game-tying goal (18:14)
As much as I’d like to shout “Third Period is Haula’s,” (please, do not ever chant this) he’ll have to share that cheer with teammate Jonathan Marchessault. #81 has one game-winning goal, and three empty-net goals as part of his 22 3rd period points.
Marchessault’s Third Period Summary: 22 Points (11 Goals, 11 Assists)
11/25/17 @ Arizona: Scored empty-net goal (19:58)
12/17/17 vs Florida: Scored empty-net goal (17:50)
1/2/18 vs Nashville: Scored empty-net goal (17:37)
1/30/18 @ Calgary: Scored game-winning goal (18:24)
The Golden Knights are 10th in the league with 55 third-period goals. Remarkably, Haula and Marchessault have 24 of them. The remaining 31 tallies were contributed by the remaining forwards and defensemen.
Golden Knights Third Period Scoring
William Karlsson: 15 Points (8 Goals, 7 Assists)
David Perron: 15 Points (5 Goals, 10 Assists)
James Neal: 11 Points (7 Goals, 4 Assists)
Reilly Smith: 9 Points(3 Goals, 6 Assists)
Colin Miller: 8 Points (3 Goals, 5 Assists)
Cody Eakin: 8 Points (1 Goal, 7 Assists)
Shea Theodore: 7 Points (1 Goal, 6 Assists)
Nate Schmidt: 7 Points (1 Goal, 6 Assists)
Alex Tuch: 5 Points (5 Assists)
Brad Hunt: 4 Points (4 Assists)
Brayden McNabb: 4 Points (1 Goal, 3 Assists)
Brandon Leipsic: 2 Points (2 Goals)
Luca Sbisa: 2 Points (2 Assists)
Jon Merrill: 2 Points (1 Goal, 1 Assist)
William Carrier: 1 Point (1 Goal)
Jason Garrison: 1 Point (1 Assist)
Stefan Matteau: 1 Point (1 Assist)
Karlsson, Neal and Perron have combined for 20 third-period goals. Late in games, the Golden Knights have plenty of options to extend or close out games. Vegas can even suck the life out of an opponent in a ten second span. That was awesome, wasn’t it?

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