“I dont know what the shots were, however they had a lot of shots, and he made himself huge every time. Crawford was up to every challenge, particularly as the Golden Knights continued to test him with high shots to the glove side. Crawford made a diving save on Max Pacioretty and packed William Karlsson on a breakaway in the 2nd period.
” Our third duration was fantastic,” Crawford said. The Blackhawks have killed off the past 14 power plays dating to the qualifying round against Edmonton.
EDMONTON, Alberta– The Chicago Blackhawks were in deep difficulty. Thats when Corey Crawford took over.
Crawford made 48 saves in a stellar efficiency, and the Blackhawks beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-1 on Sunday night to stay alive in their first-round playoff series.
” Its most likely as good as hes ever been,” Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith said. “I dont know what the shots were, however they had a lot of shots, and he made himself big every time.
Drake Caggiula and Matthew Highmore scored first-period goals for the Blackhawks, and Alex DeBrincat added an empty-netter with 10 seconds left. Chicago handed Robin Lehner his very first loss in a Golden Knights uniform because the goaltender was acquired in a trade with the Blackhawks in February.
Vegas suffered its first loss considering that showing up in Edmonton for the NHL restart. The Golden Knights, who entering Sunday were the last staying unbeaten group participating in the restart, will have another chance to liquidate the Blackhawks in Game 5 on Tuesday.
” The mood in the room is that if we continue to play like that for Game 5, were going to offer ourselves a heck of a chance to win the game,” Vegas defenseman Nate Schmidt said.
When his shot from the point slipped through traffic in front of the web, Shea Theodore scored his fourth playoff objective for Vegas in the first duration. However it was the only time the Golden Knights handled to beat Crawford on a night when the playoff-tested veteran was the very best player on the ice.
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Crawford, who was in internet when Chicago won the Stanley Cup in 2013 and 2015, set a playoff profession high for conserves in a guideline video game.
” I think for the most part we kept them to the outdoors when they did have those looks where they had perhaps a 2nd or two to hold it and shoot,” Crawford stated. “It wasnt actually coming from the middle, so that helps me a lot to be on the angle and quit less web.”.
Playing less than 24 hours after a 2-1 loss in Game 3, Crawford was under attack from the beginning, especially after the Blackhawks took a 2-0 lead on Highmores unexpected goal. Highmore tossed a shot on net from below the goal line and got a fortunate deflection when Lehner tried to reroute the puck with his head, however instead sent it into his web.
” It entered the internet, so I wasnt very happy about it,” Lehner stated. “Its a video game of errors. I slipped up. It was a respectable shot, too. But I need to have that.”.
Theodores shot slipped through, however absolutely nothing else did. Crawford depended on every obstacle, specifically as the Golden Knights continued to check him with high shots to the glove side. Crawford made a diving save on Max Pacioretty and packed William Karlsson on a breakaway in the 2nd period.
However Crawfords best series may have come midway through the 3rd duration when he stopped Karlssons attempt with his mask and after that gloved Zach Whiteclouds wrist shot from inside the ideal circle.
” Our 3rd duration was excellent,” Crawford said. “They simply seemed to be throwing pucks on net, and our men existed to clear it and simply get it out of there, get it out of the chaos. We came back great defensively in the third.”.
Chicagos charge killers likewise had a solid night. Vegas went 0-for-3 with the guy benefit and has not scored a power-play objective in the series. The Blackhawks have eliminated off the past 14 power plays dating to the qualifying round versus Edmonton.
Lehner had won all seven of his starts considering that showing up in Vegas– three in the regular season and four in Edmonton. Lehner made 22 conserves.
The Associated Press added to this report.
