Man, Game 3 was the win that the Vegas Golden Knights desperately needed. You jumped to a 3-0 lead after the first period and you added two more before the Anaheim Ducks responded. It's the type of response that you needed after a horrid Game 2, especially with history looking over you.
Like, Mitch Marner desperately needed this game to happen. He gets a natural hat trick after the Toronto Maple Leafs fans continue to chirp and he's suddenly leading the NHL in points entering Saturday! Isn't life funny?
Overall, it was a good day (as Ice Cube would say, Rhymes Like Dimes!) for the Golden Knights. But what better way to make it a better Sunday than by winning Game 4?? I know, it sounds silly from an outsider perspective. But it's entirely possible.
You know the drill, dear reader. It's time to look at the ways that the Golden Knights can make this happen. We're looking beyond Carter Hart having another strong game and Jack Eichel racking up points since, well, that's what he does. Get the white board and marker out because we're diving into the X's and the O's.
Blocked shots galore!
Game 3 was a throwback to the OG Golden Knights days, where Vegas did nothing but block shots. Think back to when Alex Pietrangelo and Alec Martinez were on the ice, taking away shooting lanes with ease. Outnumbering the Ducks by a count of 20-6 in this category was certainly a good trip down memory lane.
Names like Shea Theodore (four blocked shots), Noah Hanifin (four), and Colton Sissons (three) gave fans an awesome tribute, making life difficult for the Ducks. The Golden Knights need that type of play again in Game 4. That way, their penalty kill can function alongside Carter Hart.
Special teams must dominate again for the Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights managed to get a gift on Friday with excellent special teams play all around. We're talking about a second straight game with a power play goal and another short-handed goal (make that three for the postseason!). Not only that, but the Ducks are 0-for-11 on the power play this series.
Having the special teams show up again will go a long way in grabbing a commanding 3-1 series lead. The power play is starting to show some glimpses of life, although it remains far from perfect. Torching Anaheim and goading them into costly penalties will swing the momentum in your favor.
The Golden Knights need another fast start
Theodore got the party started in Game 3 with a goal 1:06 in. Then came Brayden McNabb with a shorty, followed by Mitch Marner's first goal of a natural hat trick. That fast start was enough to win the game for the Golden Knights.
But it also swung the momentum entirely in favor of the Golden Knights. How would an inexperienced team like the Ducks respond after being put in a three-goal deficit (gee, that sounds familiar)? If Vegas can do that again, they will set themselves up nicely for success for the remainder of the series.
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