Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) makes the save on Vegas Golden Knights’ Paul Stastny (26) during the second period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020 | 2 a.m.
The Golden Knights have been rather boring in the first period, scoring one goal in four postseason games and allowing one goal.
They’ve been underwater in the second, scoring seven and allowing nine.
The third period is where Vegas shines. The Golden Knights have scored 10 goals these playoffs and allowed just one, including a plus-two differential in Tuesday’s win. If it takes until the third period, so be it, as the Golden Knights have shown a finishing skill they’ll look to take into this afternoon’s Game 2 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Puck drop is set for 2:30 p.m.
“Since we’ve been playing here, we’ve been playing pretty well to our game,” defenseman Nick Holden said. “That’s just been a focus to us, going out in the third and just to make sure that we don’t have any letdowns and keep pushing the pace, because that’s when we can dominate the games.”
The Golden Knights like how their play improved as Game 1 progressed on Tuesday, which included two insurance goals in the third period of the eventual 4-1 win. Vegas likes to credit the team’s conditioning, as most of the team remained in town during the pause and was able to skate together once allowed.
While the slow starts might not be ideal, it’s clear through four games that the Golden Knights aren’t afraid to let a game be decided in the final 20 minutes.
Even before the pause, it’s a trait coach Peter DeBoer appreciates.
“Even though we were down in third periods, there was always a confidence that we could get back in it and win,” DeBoer said. “Once you do that a couple of times, it almost becomes an expectation.”
DeBoer said the early parts of Game 1 were like the early rounds of a boxing match, where the teams feel each other out before throwing haymakers. Vegas saw Chicago clamp down on defense and control the center of the ice, which took some time for adjustment.
The Blackhawks seemed happy to trade scoring chances with the Oilers in their qualifying round series, but didn’t do that against Vegas. Once the Golden Knights figured it out, the game started to shift, about halfway through the second and into the third.
And while it worked, the Golden Knights would rather strike early and often against the underdogs.
“We brought the puck back a little too much rather than transitioning quicker — that’s when we’re at our best,” forward Nick Cousins said. “I think if we clean up that, we should have a little bit more success in the offensive zone.”
The Golden Knights have won four of the six Game 1s in their history. They are 3-2 all-time in Game 2.
Series: Golden Knights lead 1-0
TV: AT&T SportsNet (DirecTV 684, Cox 1313, CenturyLink 1760)
Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM
Betting line: Golden Knights minus-240, Blackhawks plus-190; over/under: 6 (minus-115, minus-105)
Golden Knights (4-0, Western Conference No. 1 seed)
Previous round: Defeated Dallas, St. Louis and Colorado in round-robin
Coach: Peter DeBoer (first season)
Points leaders: Mark Stone, Shea Theodore (5)
Goals leaders: Shea Theodore, Alex Tuch (3)
Assists leaders: Nick Cousins, Ryan Reaves, Nicolas Roy, Reilly Smith, Mark Stone (3)
Expected goalie: Robin Lehner (2.28 GAA, .915 save percentage)
Blackhawks (3-2, Western Conference No. 12 seed)
Previous round: Defeated Edmonton 3-1 in qualifying round
Coach: Jeremy Colliton (second season)
Points leaders: Jonathan Toews (7)
Goals leader: Jonathan Toews (4)
Assists leaders: Kirby Dach, Duncan Keith (4)
Expected goalie: Corey Crawford (3.80 GAA, .889 save percentage)
Golden Knights projected lineup
Forwards
Max Pacioretty—William Karlsson—Mark Stone
Jonathan Marchessault—Paul Stastny—Reilly Smith
Nick Cousins—Chandler Stephenson—Alex Tuch
William Carrier—Nicolas Roy—Ryan Reaves
Defensemen
Brayden McNabb—Nate Schmidt
Alec Martinez—Shea Theodore
Nick Holden—Zach Whitecloud
Goalies
Robin Lehner, Marc-André Fleury
