The Vegas Golden Knights are running out of time to fix a recurring problem. For the fifth consecutive game, they fell behind early, and despite a third-period push, they lost 4-3 to the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday at Honda Center.

Anaheim scored three goals in the first 21 minutes, including two deflections by Chris Kreider and a power-play goal from Cutter Gauthier. The Knights mounted a comeback with goals from Mitch Marner and Ivan Barbashev in the third period, but couldn’t complete the rally.

“It seems like the past little bit we’ve been chasing way too much,” defenseman Shea Theodore said. “We’ve been trying to rely on our comebacks, and it’s not good enough.”

The loss dropped Vegas into a tie with Edmonton for first place in the Pacific Division, though the Knights hold a game in hand. The margin between first and sixth in the division is just six points.

Coach Bruce Cassidy pointed to defensive lapses, particularly on Kreider’s goals. “The first goal, we could’ve done a better job,” he said. On Gauthier’s goal, which beat goaltender Adin Hill short-side, Cassidy added: “That’s the one that hurt us. It should’ve never gone in.”

The Knights have now lost five straight for the second time since the new year. They responded to the first such skid with a seven-game winning streak. With two games before the Olympic break, the margin for error is shrinking.

“There’s two games left before the break and we want to be feeling good going into it,” Theodore said. “Right now, it sucks.”