Vegas Golden Knights Vs. Blackhawks Game 2: Lineups, odds, more

It is Game 2 and the Vegas Golden Knights will be looking to take a 2-0 series lead against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Two goals from Reilly Smith and 19 saves from Robin Lehner helped the Vegas Golden Knights to a 4-1 win on Tuesday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, and we’ve got you set for Game 2.

The Skinny

Vegas looked near to the peak of their powers in Game 1, combining size with skill and no one from the top line even got on the scoreboard.

That should worry the Blackhawks.

The second line of Jonathan Marchessault, Paul Stastny and Reilly Smith was great and combined for five points, while the defense and that aggressive forecheck limited Chicago to just 20 shots on goal.

We don’t know at the time of writing who will get the start in Game 2, although if I was a gambling man I would assume that Lehner would go again.

We’ll see, however.

Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights scores a goal against Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period in Game One of the Western Conference First Round.(Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)

Both teams went 0/2 on the power play and Vegas gave up a shorthanded goal, so special teams will no doubt be a focus for the Golden Knights heading into today’s game.

Chicago will also be concerned with getting their big guns involved in the play more, given that the likes of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Dominik Kubalik and Duncan Keith were all held off the scoresheet.

Corey Crawford also looked shaky between the pipes and the Knights did a good job of forcing a lot of defensive breakdowns.

Chicago did hang on in there, though, and the Golden Knights should be wary of a spirited fightback in Game 2 given what is on the line.

Betting Odds

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Projected Lineups

I can’t foresee there being any change to the Vegas Golden Knights lineup for Game 2 against the Blackhawks.

Max Pacioretty was restored to the lineup for Game 1 and looked okay, while Tomas Nosek should be a healthy scratch again given how impressive Nicolas Roy was on the fourth line between Ryan Reaves and William Carrier.

The only big question remains over the goaltending with Robin Lehner expected to get the start again after saving 19 of 20 shots in Game 1.

This is the Golden Knights Projected Lineup, per nhl.com…

Max Pacioretty – William Karlsson – Mark Stone

Jonathan Marchessault – Paul Stastny – Reilly Smith

Nick Cousins – Chandler Stephenson – Alex Tuch

William Carrier – Nicolas Roy – Ryan Reaves

Brayden McNabb – Nate Schmidt

Alec Martinez – Shea Theodore

Nick Holden – Zach Whitecloud

Robin Lehner

Marc-Andre Fleury

A lot of Chicago’s big guns were disappointing in Game 1, and the Blackhawks will need more from the likes of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.