Chicago Blackhawks: vs Vegas Golden Knights: Game 3 Preview

The Chicago Blackhawks have their backs against the wall heading into game three tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights, and we have your game preview.

Playoff Records:

Chicago: 3-3 

Vegas: 5-0

Blackhawks’ Team leaders

Jonathan Toews – 8 points (4G, 4A) 

Dominik Kubalik – 7 points (4G, 3A) 

Patrick Kane – 7 points (1G, 6A)

 Projected Lines:

Forwards: 

Brandon Saad — Jonathan Toews — Dominik Kubalik

Alex DeBrincat — Kirby Dach — Patrick Kane

Alex Nylander — Dylan Strome — Drake Caggiula

Matthew Highmore — David Kampf — Ryan Carpenter

Defense:

Duncan Keith — Adam Boqvist

Calvin de Haan — Connor Murphy

Olli Maatta — Slater Koekkoek

Goalies:  
Corey Crawford 

Malcolm Subban 

I will admit, I did like a lot of the Chicago Blackhawks game in game two. I thought they played better and they showed that they are capable of playing against the Golden Knights. If it was not for some bad reffing and a few minutes where the Blackhawks just forgot to play hockey, they would have won the game.

It was great seeing Patrick Kane finally have a good game offensively as he had three assists in game two, however, he can not stop there. Kane has one goal this playoff and it was against the Oilers, this is the longest he has gone from scoring a goal in a long time.

If the Blackhawks are going to have any chance they are going to need to have Patrick Kane factoring in offensively, and they are going to need their other young guns firing at all cylinders, that includes Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome who have been pretty quiet.

Do not expect to see Malcolm Subban in net tonight. I know that Corey Crawford gave up a few soft goals but at the same time he is their starter and they really do not have a chance without him playing his A-game. Putting Subban in net would not fix their issues.

Vegas Leads the Series 2-0

Golden Knights’ Team Leaders:

Reilly Smith: 7 Points (3G, 4A) 

Mark Stone: 6 Points (3G, 3A)

Jonathan Marchessault: 6 Points (2G, 4A)

Projected Lines:

Forwards: 

Max Pacioretty — William Karlsson — Mark Stone

Jonathan Marchessault — Paul Stastny — Reilly Smith

Chandler Stephenson — Nick Cousins — Alex Tuch

Will Carrier — Nicolas Roy — Ryan Reaves

Defense:

Brayden Mcnabb — Nate Schmidt

Alec Martinez — Shea Theodore

Nick Holden — Zach Whitecloud

Goalies:

Robin Lehner 

Marc-Andre Fleury

The Vegas Golden Knights have had the Blackhawks number so far this series. They have constantly found a way to crush the Blackhawks into submission whether with a big hit or by scoring a big goal.

Robin Lehner looks like the great goalie the Blackhawks had earlier this series, and Mark Stone has looked like a man on a mission who can do anything against this ‘Hawks team. If the Blackhawks are going to have any chance in this series it hinges on them shutting down Vegas’s top line and not letting Ryan Reaves or anyone else on Vegas plays too physical with them.

Who Has The Edge?

Let’s be honest with ourselves, the Vegas Golden Knights have the edge heading into this game. They have all of the momentum and a 2-0 series leading heading into this game. I want to see the Blackhawks succeed as much as the next guy, but there is no doubt in my mind that the Golden Knights have the edge.

The Golden Knights (-190) are favorite by 1.5 goals, with a 6.5 over/under.

Puck Drop is at 7:00 PM CT. Make sure to follow along on our Twitter page during the game, and come back here after the game for post-game reactions! Let’s Go Hawks! #AllForOne

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