Recap: The Golden Knights quickly took control of Game 3. After killing an early penalty Vegas forward Alex Tuch scored the first goal of the game. It was Tuch’s seventh goal of the postseason. Defenseman Zach Whitecloud didn’t hesitate to give his team a two-goal lead 1:23 later. It was Whitecloud’s second of the playoffs making it a 2-0 1st period lead. Starting goaltender Robin Lehner fought off several power plays and a barrage of Vancouver shots holding Vegas’ two goal edge after the opening twenty minutes.
The Golden Knights heavily pressured the Canucks in the 2nd period. They outshot Vancouver 15-7 and held their two goal lead. Both goaltenders were strong saving all 22 shots in the middle frame.
The Golden Knights struggled on the power play until Mark Stone broke the seal in the 3rd period. Stone’s sixth of the postseason extended Vegas’ the lead 3-0. Lehner was flawless again saving all 32 shots and shutting out the Canucks for the second time in three games.
With their 3-0 victory the Golden Knights reclaim their series lead 2-1 in their best-of-seven game series. The second round matchup with the Canucks continues tomorrow night. Game 4 will air on NBC Sports Network scheduled for 7:30 PM (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: The 1st period was filled with penalties on both sides and if not for Robin Lehner’s brilliance it could have been trouble early for the Golden Knights. But, when the game was played at 5-on-5, which is was for a majority of the 2nd and 3rd, the Canucks had no answers for the Golden Knights. A classic, dominant victory in the fashion anyone who handicapped this series would have expected. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from Game 3 of the Vegas Golden Knights vs Vancouver Canucks in Round 2 series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place in the NHL Bubble.
- Back-to-backs in the playoffs: Why does VGK think they must play both goalies, plenty of team’s don’t.
Ken’s Three VGK Stars
*** Nic Roy
** Alex Tuch
* Robin Lehner
VGK play like VGK can… Vancouver is hopeless.
That happened tonight and it should happen tomorrow and Tuesday too.#WontStopVegas
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) August 30, 2020
I don't see how you change goalies after this game.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) August 30, 2020
This is what it looks like when the shot suppression machine is working.
It's working well this period. https://t.co/OAbrVZI7c0
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) August 30, 2020
Let's talk about another shutout and another example of why the Golden Knights are better than the Canucks. https://t.co/WXsznL7jJb
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) August 30, 2020
DOC aPositiveFan
Today is the 2nd game of the back to back. Now “normally” you might see the backup goalie play. But these are not “normal” times. A) – The backup goalie & his agent publicly demeaned and tried to embarrass the HEAD coach. B) – The #1 goalie just got his 2nd shutout, in 3 games, against todays opponent. Personally I don’t care who starts. But I think PDB DOES! We’ll see. GO KNIGHTS GO !!!
hdbiker7851
Just a question DOC concerning point “A” – with all the fuss going on about a number of issues do you think PDB’s only concern this evening is who will tend goal? I really don’t think we know all there is to know about the Fluery issue and his dumb ass agent – only time will tell how all that works out. As I recall reading someplace the thought was the Vegas Golden Knights had more to do with the trouble it caused than PDB. While what happened didn’t endear Fluery to many people he was the face of the Knights for almost 2 and half years and took them to the first Cup play-off beating PDB’s sharks – the second year the sharks won based on a very dumb move by the coach at the time by not calling a time out. Lehner played well last night but so did the team which took a lot pressure off. His previous appears where by no means stellar despite winning one and loosing one. I frankly don’t care who tends goal and I don’t believe it matters as much as the entire team showing up with a winning attitude and actions to back it up. That is not taking anything away from who plays goal.
Tim
I don’t think it was just DeBoer who was embarrassed I think management and owner feel the same way. Fluery will always have a special place in Knight fans heart but he crossed the line and theirs no coming back.
Hdbiker7851
Tim – to bad we don’t live in a perfect world l can’t believe all of us haven’t made a mistake of one kind or another and fortunately been forgiven. One of the many problems in the world today stems from the need to GET even despite how that might take place . What do you think this social justice thing is all about. Again rightly or wrongly so . I hope hope mgt and Pete are man enough to accept that maybe they are part to blame and chalk it up to an unfortunate occurrence. Show up tonight with a winning attitude and actions to back it up regardless who’s in goal.