Vegas Golden Knights: Sights and sounds from a hard-fought Game 3
The end is in sight for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Well, the end of Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs anyway after the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 in Game 3 to take a 3-0 series lead.
It was a gritty win for the Golden Knights who could now sweep this series with a win in Game 4 on Sunday.
Playing as the road team in Game 3, if that’s even a thing given the current climate, Vegas struck first.
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On the penalty kill early in the first period, Mark Stone forced a turnover and dished the puck to William Karlsson who went to his backhand to beat Corey Crawford upstairs.
Patrick Brown, who had replaced Tomas Nosek in the lineup, made an immediate impact after jamming home a rebound for his first postseason goal.
It wasn’t the perfect game from the Golden Knights and Olli Maatta set up a nervy finish after lighting the lamp at 6:21 in the third period.
However, the Knights got a stunning performance from Marc-Andre Fleury who stood on his head in his first start of the series, stopping 26 of the 27 shots he faced.
Let’s take you through the sights and sounds of Game 3…
The King Returns
With a back-to-back to contend with this weekend, we knew we were going to see Marc-Andre Fleury at some point.
Well, the future Hall of Famer didn’t disappoint in his first start of the series against the Blackhawks.
In fact, Fleury was outstanding.
He made 26 saves from 27 shots and came up huge with Chicago playing desperate hockey, and it was a reminder that Fleury is still a force to be reckoned with even if Robin Lehner does carry the majority of the load going forward.
And it was just good to see those golden pads back out on the ice.
Next Man Up
The Golden Knights have been hit by the dreaded “Unfit to Play” curse plenty over the last few days.
While Max Pacioretty was cleared fit to return for Game 3, both Tomas Nosek and Paul Stastny were determined “Unfit to Play.”
As a result, a call was put into the Taxi Squad and called up was Patrick Brown, who had eight postseason appearances with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018-19.
Brown was a +1 in 8:45 minutes of total ice time and he recorded what proved to be the game-winner.
After Alex Tuch was denied by Corey Crawford on the rush, Brown was on the doorstep to put home the rebound to record his first postseason goal.
What a moment.
Shorty Time
The Golden Knights love themselves a shorthanded goal.
After giving up a shorty earlier in the series, Vegas got their revenge on the Blackhawks early in the first period.
With 4:12 played, Mark Stone forced a turnover and then dished the puck to William Karlsson who raced in before going to his backhand and then going upstairs to beat Crawford.
You need to excel on special teams in the postseason and the Golden Knights did just that in a tight game.
Big Winner
Marc-Andre Fleury: 26 Saves, .963 SV%
There’s only one choice for our big winner of Game 3. Marc-Andre Fleury, in his first start of the series, stood on his head and he was absolutely sensational.
He won this game for the Golden Knights and, in doing so, won his 80th career playoff game, which is tied for 6th in NHL History with Ken Dryden.
Big Loser
Chicago Blackhawks
Time is running out for the Blackhawks who have actually hung with the Golden Knights in this series, but they just haven’t got the depth needed to deal with this roster in a Best-of-Seven.
dark. Next. Smith playing like a Conn Smythe contender
It could all come to an end on Sunday.