Vegas Golden Knights dominate Blackhawks to take Game 1

The Vegas Golden Knights faced the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 and managed to take a 1-0 series lead.

The Vegas Golden Knights squared off against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 of their first-round series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Head coach Peter DeBoer going with Robin Lehner over Marc Andre Fleury after starting the year in Chicago.

The 1st period got off to a fast start, as we knew both teams were speedy and quick and it was a great start to the game. Vegas pressed early for the first goal of the game and dominated possession early. Through 10 minutes it remained scoreless, as both goalies were making great saves.

The period really was a fast physical period and the Golden Knights finished the first period outshooting the Hawks 9-5 as the period finished with no goals.

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If the 1st period seemed like there was barely any action the 2nd period was probably one of the best periods we have seen so far in the playoffs. The Chicago Blackhawks came out strong as they almost got the game’s first goal but the puck hit the crossbar. Vegas had a bit of a scare when Robin Lehner lost his blade during a play and was swimming in the net but luckily nothing came out of it.

The blade was fixed and the game continued, three minutes into the period Robin Lehner made a brilliant save on a great shot and we were curious to see if Vegas would respond. We actually ended up having a big scrum at the Chicago bench and we saw a bit of a feisty side from both clubs.

The Golden Knights finally made a breakthrough when Shea Theodore got a pass from Rielly Smith and took a great shot from the point that beat Crawford high glove short side for the 1-0 lead. It didn’t take long for Vegas to increase their lead as two minutes later Will Carrier got in on the action and made it 2-0 Vegas.

The Blackhawks would challenge the goal for a potential offside but it was deemed a good goal and the Hawks were given a minor penalty for losing the challenge. Vegas at that point had scored 2 goals in a span of 2:17 which was pretty impressive.

Chicago responded on the penalty with a short-handed goal when David Kampf steals the puck from Shea Theodore does a give and go with Brendan Saad and goes top shelf on Lehner to cut the deficit to one.

The Blackhawks got into more penalty trouble when Kirby Dach was called for tripping. Vegas looked to regain their two-goal lead and Shea Theodore had a great opportunity when he fired a slap shot but Crawford would make another great save. The Knights were throwing everything at the net but couldn’t solve the Hawks netminder.

Patrick Kane had a great chance to tie the game at two but this time it was Lehner turn to shut the door. The Knights got their second penalty of the game when Brayden McNabb got called for holding. Vegas was able to kill the penalty and the second period ended with the Golden Knights up 2-1 heading into the final frame.

Vegas came out on fire in the 3rd with the first shot of the period but Crawford would make another save to keep it 2-1. A couple of minutes later Rielly Smith scored to make it 3-1 when he got the puck and took a great wrist shot that fooled Crawford going off his blocker and bouncing into the back of the net.

Smith would add to Vegas lead five minutes later when he got a great alley-oop pass from Jonathan Marchessault and went backhand top shelf on Crawford to make it 4-1 Vegas. Two minutes later Alec Martinez got penalized for holding and it gave the Chicago Blackhawks a chance to get back in the game.

Patrick Kane had a great chance to cut the lead to two but only managed to hit the post. The Hawks did everything they could but Lehner was standing tall in net and showing to head coach Pete Deboer that it was the right move to start him.

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The game would end on that score and Vegas would take game one, Game 2 goes on Thursday at 5:30 pm eastern.

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