Vegas Golden Knights beat Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 to grab 3-0 series lead

The Vegas Golden Knights are 1 win away from Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after beating Chicago 2-1 in Game 3.

The Vegas Golden Knights and the Chicago Blackhawks faced off in game 3, Vegas with a win would have a chance to advance tomorrow while the Blackhawks needed a win to not face elimination.

A couple of line up updates to tell you before we get to the game as Pete Deboer due to a back to back situation decided to put Marc Andre Fleury in net, Max Pacioretty was back in the line up after missing game 2 and Paul Stasny was declared unfit to play for game 3.

The first period started with the same fast pace as we had seen in the previous games. Three minutes into the period Reilly Smith got called for slashing in the first penalty call of the game. We expected a strong powerplay from the Blackhawks but off a turnover, Mark Stone found William Karlsson who went in on Corey Crawford and went backhand top shelf for an early 1-0 lead and a shorthanded goal.

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Chicago had a great chance to tie the game but Marc Andre Fleury who was making his first start in the playoffs made an incredible glove save. Vegas got 2 more penalties in the period but did a good job of killing them both. The first period ended with the Golden Knights up 1-0.

The second period started with Chicago attacking early on trying to get the equalizer but Fleury was standing tall in net making save after save. Vegas had an early chance on the powerplay but it was Crawford’s turn to come up big keeping his team in the game.

With four minutes left in the period, the Knights added to their lead when Alex Tuch took a great shot and Patrick Brown who was playing his first playoff game and a replacement for Paul Stasny managed to get the rebound past Crawford for his first-ever playoff goal.

The period ended with Vegas up 2-0 but the Knights would start the third period on the penalty kill.

Chicago Blackhawks came out firing on all cylinders at the beginning of the third period looking to get back in the game. Through the first five minutes, the Blackhawks were outshooting the Knights 5-0 and finally got a breakthrough when Olli Maatta took a wrist shot that fooled Fleury going off his shoulder to cut Vegas lead to one.

Vegas couldn’t manage a shot on goal and go on a 14-minute stretch where they didn’t register a shot on goal. The Hawks did everything they could but ultimately fell 2-1 with game 4 scheduled for tomorrow.

Game 4 goes Sunday at 6: 30pm eastern and Vegas will have a chance to end the series and pull off a sweep of the Blackhawks.