Vegas Golden Knights: Sights and Sounds from OT Loss in WCF Game 3
Let us take you through the Sights & Sounds from a tough Game 3 loss for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Overtime can be a killer and that was the case on Thursday as Alexander Radulov scored the game-winner just 31 seconds in OT to give the Dallas Stars a 2-1 series lead over the Vegas Golden Knights.
It was a crushing blow for the Golden Knights, who now face a crucial Game 4 in the Western Conference Final on Saturday.
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And it was another game where a lack of offense hurt the Knights who have now scored just five goals in three games in this series.
Jamie Oleksiak scored on a breakaway for the Stars in the second period, although Shea Theodore made it a tied game with a power play goal early in the final frame.
Another odd-man rush resulted in another goal for Dallas as Jamie Benn beat Robin Lehner, but the game went to overtime thanks to Mark Stone‘s seventh goal of the postseason.
However, any momentum the Golden Knights may have gained from making it a tied game didn’t last long as Alexander Radulov scored the game-winner just 31 seconds into OT.
It was a big loss for the Golden Knights, and we thought we would go over the Sights & Sounds from Game 3 of the Western Conference Final…
Breakaways Galore
The Dallas Stars are employing a clear tactic in this series and that is to clog up the slot, allow their opponent to generate shots and then hit execute on an odd-man rush or a breakaway.
It is a tactic that has worked a treat so far and it really paid off in Game 3.
Dallas generated eight offensive chances off the rush, including Alexander Radulov’s game-winner in Overtime.
It is without a doubt one of the Stars’ biggest strengths and it is something the Golden Knights will need to learn how to combat if they are to stay alive in this series.
Quarterback Supreme
Shea Theodore is a lethal weapon on the power play for the Golden Knights, quickly becoming one of the best in the NHL at quarterbacking the man advantage.
He showed why in Game 3 with a shot from the point that found a way through traffic and past Anton Khudobin to make it a tied game in the third period.
Theodore now leads the Golden Knights in power play points with eight, and the defenseman is playing at a Conn Smythe level for Vegas right now.
Creating Traffic
Mark Stone is an absolute game-changer for the Golden Knights and he can deliver a big moment when his team needs him the most.
He certainly did that in Game 3 after scoring the goal that took the contest to Overtime.
It wasn’t in usual Mark Stone fashion, however, with the forward getting to the front of the net and deflecting an Alex Tuch shot with his body past Anton Khudobin in the Stars net.
Lehner Heroics
Robin Lehner has been huge for the Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, going 9-5-0 in 14 starts with a 1.92 Save Percentage and a .921 Save Percentage.
And he had some big moments in Game 3 despite being on the losing side.
The 2018-19 Vezina Trophy finalist made 20 shots on 23 saves and none were perhaps as good than this double save on Joel Kiviranta.
Sensational.
Big Winner
Alexander Radulov: 1G, 1P, +2, 15:02 TOI
The Dallas Stars have needed more contributions from some of their big hitters, and they certainly got that from Alexander Radulov in Game 3.
With just 31 seconds played in Overtime, Radulov took a pass from Joe Pavelski on an odd-man rush before beating Robin Lehner with a lethal snipe.
Big Loser
The Vegas Golden Knights Defense
They gave up eight offensive chances off the rush and all three goals they allowed came on odd-man rushes or breakaways.
Next. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly from Game 3. dark
The system breakdown for Alexander Radulov’s game-winner in Overtime was tough to watch in particular, and you can’t be making those kind of mistakes at this stage of the postseason.