Vegas Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner (90) makes a save on Vancouver Canucks’ Bo Horvat (53) as Golden Knights’ Brayden McNabb (3) defends during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Published Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020 | 9:24 p.m.
Updated Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020 | 11:31 p.m.
Four early saves from goalie Robin Lehner were likely the difference for the Golden Knights in their Game 3 victory Saturday against Vancouver Canucks.
Vegas did a good a job of keeping the Canucks clear of the dangerous scoring areas most of the game. But Vancouver had two early power plays, and that’s where Lehner was great in making the four saves to set the tone for the remainder of the Golden Knights’ 3-0 win.
The Canucks took four shots in the first period from within 15 feet of the net, with those shots combined to have a value of 0.94 expected goals, according to projections on Moneypuck.com. That means one of the attempts should have turned into a goal and early Vegas deficit.
But Lehner turned them all away.
“I knew before the game we were going to come out and have a good game,” said Lehner, who finished with 32 saves. “They had a little bit of a push in the first period, but I thought we took over the game after that.”
Instead of falling behind early, Vegas would tally two first-period goals. It added an insurance goal early in the third period to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven second round playoff series.
Lehner has allowed 19 goals this postseason from an average distance of 13.8 feet, the shortest distance faced by any starting goalie, according to Natural Stat Trick. Most of that came in Game 2, where the Canucks scored four goals from a total distance of 22 feet, including two from just three feet out.
Obviously, shots from in close are harder to stop. The Golden Knights did a much better job limiting those on Saturday, forcing the Canucks to take long-range, low-danger chances.
The Canucks’ 32 shots came from an average distance of 40.1 feet and they took only three shots goal all game from within 10 feet of the net.
“Our attention to detail in those areas was a lot better tonight,” Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said. “They did get some looks, and when they did Robin I thought was right on it. He didn’t leave any pucks laying around, there was no rebounds, he was swallowing up everything.”
The Canucks are too dangerous of an offensive team to go an entire game without some good looks. They dictated play early in Game 3 though — buoyed in part by two power-play chances — in registering six of the game’s initial seven shot attempts. The Canucks would finish with 14 shots in the first, including nine came on the power play.
“We had a few penalties early on and Robin made some huge saves,” said forward Alex Tuch, who scored the team’s first goal. “We knew this was going to be a battle all night and we wanted to go out there and get the first (goal).”
The Golden Knights reestablished tempo in the second period, and after that it was smooth sailing the rest of the way. From the 16:42 mark of the first period through the end of the game, the Golden Knights outshot Vancouver 27-11. After a first period in which the Canucks had seven high-danger chances (according to Natural Stat Trick), they had three the rest of the way.
“We knew we had a lot better than what we showed in Game 2,” Vegas defenseman Alec Martinez said of the defense. “I’m really proud of the guys on the back end, but also the whole squad.”
The back end had quite a night.
Martinez had a team-high nine shot attempts and Shea Theodore was second with eight. Martinez and Zach Whitecloud led the team with four shots on goal each, a career-high for Whitecloud to go along with a career-high six blocks. Brayden McNabb had a team-high 26:09 of ice time, the most he’s ever had in a regulation playoff game.
And Whitecloud also scored Vegas’ second goal, the second of his career. It was arguably the best outing that Whitecloud has had as a pro, and it didn’t escape notice.
“Might have been his best game of the playoffs,” DeBoer said. “He was really solid, really physical, really strong out there tonight.”
It was a well-balanced effort with goals from the third line, the defense and from their top power play unit. Mark Stone’s power play goal sealed the victory in the third. Just like Game 1, it was a mostly dominant effort.
That’s especially true for the man in the crease, who has blanked the Canucks twice in three games this series.
“I thought everyone did a great job of pitching in and working hard and blocking shots, doing all the right things,” Lehner said. “It’s a very complete team, a very good group.”
