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Vegas Golden Knights: Three keys to beating the Blackhawks

By Andrew Steele-Davis

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 22: Kirby Dach #77 of the Chicago Blackhawks collides with Cody Eakin #21 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period at the United Center on October 22, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 22: Kirby Dach #77 of the Chicago Blackhawks collides with Cody Eakin #21 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period at the United Center on October 22, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Tonight is a huge game for the Vegas Golden Knights who take on the Chicago Blackhawks looking to snap a three-game losing streak.

Back at T-Mobile Arena following a disastrous 1-2-1 four-game road trip, the Vegas Golden Knights have slumped badly as of late and they are in dire need of a win.

The good news is that they are 7-0-0 against the Blackhawks all time, although the bad news is that Chicago has peaked as of late and are 2-0-1 in their last three games.

It has been a rude awakening for the Golden Knights over the last few weeks with the team currently fifth in the Pacific Division, and there are a number of flaws that have reared their ugly head.

Chicago are a team in transition right now and they are 6-7-4 on the year in total, although they boast offensive threats in the likes of Patrick Kane, who leads the team in points with 20 (eight goals, 12 assists).

That being said, given Vegas’ Stanley Cup aspirations this year, they should be winning games like these and they need a big W tonight given that they have dropped six of their last eight contests.

So, on that note, let’s take a look at the three keys to the game for the Vegas Golden Knights against the Chicago Blackhawks…

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 9: Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) celebrates his first period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights at Capital One Arena. (Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 9: Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) celebrates his first period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights at Capital One Arena. (Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

1. Don’t Implode In The Third

The Vegas Golden Knights have been dreadful in the third period of games recently, blowing a lead in the final period in four of their last six games.

That simply isn’t good enough and it is really going to cost this team down the road if they don’t eradicate that flaw sooner rather than later.

Another bugaboo has been the Knights’ inability to get their offense going, particularly in the third period where they have scored just one final period goal in the last four games.

You can’t take the third period off and the Vegas Golden Knights are going to have to bring a big effort when it really counts if they are to come away with the W tonight.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: Reilly Smith #19, Brandon Pirri #73, Jimmy Schuldt #4 and William Karlsson #71 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after Schuldt scored a second-period power-play goal against the San Jose Sharks during their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on September 29, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sharks 5-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: Reilly Smith #19, Brandon Pirri #73, Jimmy Schuldt #4 and William Karlsson #71 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after Schuldt scored a second-period power-play goal against the San Jose Sharks during their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on September 29, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Sharks 5-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

2. Win Special Teams Battle

The Golden Knights currently have the third best penalty kill in the National Hockey League (87.7), while the Chicago Blackhawks are average on the power play, which is ranked 24th (14.5).

When it comes to the power play for Vegas, what was two potent units have tapered off somewhat and the man advantage is now ranked 12th in the NHL (21.2).

They have scored just two power play goals in four games but, the Knights will be going up against the 21st ranked penalty kill in the NHL tonight.

As a result, if the Knights can get their power play going again while remaining hot on the penalty kill, then that should give them the edge in tonight’s game.

TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 7: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights waits for a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on November 7, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Golden Knights 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 7: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights waits for a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on November 7, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Golden Knights 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

3. Get The Offense Going

As already mentioned, the Vegas Golden Knights have been entrenched in an offensive slump during the month of November so far, averaging just 2.84 Goals For Per Game.

Mark Stone has gone four games without tallying a point while Paul Stastny is in a six-game rut without a single goal or assist.

William Karlsson has also struggled offensively, going three straight games without a single point, while the third line has been a poisoned chalice for this team.

A plethora of different third line combinations have mustered up just one single goal in 17 games, which came from rookie Cody Glass who needs to be playing as a second line center rather than as a third line wing.

The return of Alex Tuch to the lineup tonight will give the Knights a significant boost, and hopefully the forward will help to spark the third line into life.

Next. Golden Knights vs. Blackhawks Pregame Info. dark

One of this team’s biggest strength is its offensive firepower and it won’t be long before the likes of Stone, Stastny and Karlsson break out of their respective slumps.

You have to score in order to win games and the Vegas Golden Knights are going to have to find their scoring touch tonight if they are going to beat the Chicago Blackhawks and snap a three-game losing streak.

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