Blog: Golden Knights can’t hold early lead, fall to Blackhawks

By Justin Emerson

Published Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 | 4 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 | 9:44 p.m.

As it turns out, the Golden Knights road trip didn't do much to exorcize whatever problems they have holding leads at home. They had one Wednesday night, but couldn't hold it, and lost to the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 at T-Mobile Arena.

It was the third home game in a row that Vegas had blown a two-goal lead.

Chicago came into the third period up by one and extended its lead at the 3:57 mark, when 2019 third-overall pick collected a rebound and fired it into the net for his third of the season and second against the Golden Knights lead. It gave Chicago a 4-2 lead. 

Dylan Strome added a goal with 3:21 remaining to empty the seats at the arena. Nate Schmidt scored for Vegas with a minute remaining.

Vegas jumped out to an early lead and even held a two-goal advantage withing the first few minutes. William Carrier served as a deflector for a Nicolas Hague shot just 2:58 into the game, and William Karlsson netted a power-play goal at 6:29.

The Blackhawks woke up after the Karlsson goal, scoring 16 seconds later courtesy of Patrick Kane.

The 2-1 Vegas lead lasted into the second period until Calvin de Haan tied it at 4:09 and Erik Gustafsson put Chicago up 3-2 45 seconds later. It stung extra hard for the Golden Knights, who thought they scored just before the de Haan goal but replay took away Alex Tuch's snipe.

Vegas led in shots on goal for the game 42-26.

Golden Knights trail by 1 going to final period

Maybe it's a good thing the Golden Knights don't have a game tomorrow or Friday, because based on the pace of this one, they're going to be exhausted.

The speed from the first period didn't dissipate, though the Golden Knights allowed two goals to end the second period in a 3-2 hole to the Chicago Blackhawks.

The momentum shift in the second period was fast and it hit like a truck. It looked like Alex Tuch put the Golden Knights up by two goals when he sniped it past Corey Crawford. It rang off the post, but the official signaled for a goal, getting the crowd fired up. A quick review overturned the goal, and Chicago took advantage.

Twenty seconds later, Calvin de Haan elevated a wrist shot over Marc-Andre Fleury to tie the game. Then 45 seconds after that, Erik Gustafsson put another into the net. Instead of being up 3-1, instead the Golden Knights trailed 3-2.

The second period also saw the second penalty shot of the game after officials ruled Crawford threw his stick at Jonathan Marchessault, when it appeared he lost control of it as Marchessault skated behind the net. He fumbled the puck on the free attempt and it went wide.

Both goalies were terrific through two periods, with Crawford making 29 saves and Fleury making 14, many of which belonged on the highlights. If the first two periods are any indicator, the third period is going to be a fun one.

Fast-paced first has Golden Knights up on Blackhawks

The last time the Golden Knights played was Sunday, one of the more dull starts to the game of the season. The first period against the Chicago Blackhawks was not that.

Both teams came out of the gates flying, and the Golden Knights held a 2-1 edge after one.

Things didn't start off so good for the Golden Knights and Nicolas Hague, who hooked Zack Smith on a breakaway to give him a penalty shot just 44 seconds in. He rang it off the crossbar.

It didn't take long for Hague to redeem himself. Nicolas Roy made a nifty play near the net and got the puck to Hague at the blue line. Hague toe-dragged around around a Chicago defender and wristed it on net, banking it off William Carrier for a 1-0 lead at the 2:58 mark.

The next few minutes of hockey were as electric as any have been all season. First William Karlsson scored to put the Golden Knights up by a pair, taking a Jonathan Marchessault feed on a gorgeous power-play zone entry. 

Then 16 seconds later the Blackhawks got it back. Dylan Strome set up Patrick Kane with a cross-ice pass, and Kane one-timed into the net to make it 2-1 at the 6:45 mark. Seventeen seconds later Jonathan Toews got loose for a breakaway but it was denied.

Vegas had a scary moment with about two minutes left in the frame, when Karlsson and Chicago's Alex DeBrincat went tumbling into Marc-Andre Fleury. Trainers came to check on Fleury who took some time to steady himself, but remained in the game.

The Golden Knights led in shots on goal 16-8 for the first. 

Alex Tuch returns again as Golden Knights host Blackhawks

The last time Alex Tuch returned to the lineup, he hoped it would be the last time he missed any games. That return lasted about four periods before he was hurt again.

Now he's back again, and his return couldn't have come at a better time. The Golden Knights have lost six of their last eight games and will turn to Tuch to help right the ship when they host the Chicago Blackhawks at 7 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena.

"It's part of the business. Injuries happen," Tuch said. "I didn't think my injuries would be this close together, but I just want to play."

Tuch will slide in on the third-line wing, presumably on the left side, with Cody Eakin at center and Cody Glass on the opposite side. Tuch brings an element of speed to the line — and the lineup overall — that Vegas can use during this slump. Tuch scored in his only full game this season and was a 20-goal scorer with 52 points when healthy last season.

Needless to say, Vegas is happy to have him back.

"It gives other guys confidence that he's playing with, and that's going to take pressure off other guys in the lineup," defenseman Nate Schmidt said. "He's a guy that we've missed, and we've missed him a ton."

The Golden Knights will face the only team in the NHL yet to defeat them. They are 7-0-0 all-time against Chicago, including a road win three weeks ago in which they scored to tie it with 1:33 remaining in the game and won in a shootout.

Vegas Coach Gerard Gallant said the team has been fortunate against Chicago. "I think we've got lucky a couple of times to be totally honest with you," he said.

Marc-Andre Fleury will start for the Golden Knights tonight after Malcolm Subban had the net three of the last five games. Chicago will start goalie Corey Crawford, the longtime starter who has struggled this season compared to tandem partner Robin Lehner. Lehner started in the first game between these two teams and stopped 31 of 32 shots.

TV: NBC Sports Network (DirecTV 220, Cox 38, CenturyLink 640)

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

Betting line: Golden Knights minus-250, Blackhawks plus-200; over/under: 6.5 (minus-110, minus-110)

Golden Knights (9-7-3, 21 points) (4-3-2 home), fifth place, Pacific Division; second place, Wild Card

Coach: Gerard Gallant (third season)

Points leader: Mark Stone (18)

Goals leaders: Reilly Smith (10)

Assists leaders: William Karlsson (12)

Expected goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (2.51 GAA, .920 save percentage)

Blackhawks (6-7-4, 16 points) (1-4-2 road), sixth place, Central Division; seventh place, Wild Card

Coach: Jeremy Colliton (second season)

Points leaders: Patrick Kane (20)

Goals leaders: Patrick Kane (8)

Assists leaders: Patrick Kane (12)

Expected goalie: Corey Crawford (3.27 GAA, .905 save percentage)

Golden Knights expected lineup

Forwards

Jonathan Marchessault—William Karlsson—Reilly Smith

Max Pacioretty—Paul Stastny—Mark Stone

Alex Tuch—Cody Eakin—Cody Glass

William Carrier—Nicolas Roy—Ryan Reaves

Defensemen

Brayden McNabb—Nate Schmidt

Jon Merrill—Nick Holden

Nicolas Hague—Shea Theodore

Goalies

Marc-Andre Fleury, Malcolm Subban