The top-seeded Vegas Golden Knights faced the Vancouver Canucks, the only western-based team that won a qualifying round. While the favoured Golden Knights were in control for most of the series, they were almost goalied into an upset. The Vegas Golden Knights needed seven games to take the series and move on to the Conference Finals.
Games
Vancouver Canucks - 0
Vegas Golden Knights - 5
Despite being the more controlling team early on, it wasn't until midway through the first when the Golden Knights opened the scoring. Jonathan Marchessault was the goalscorer, as he took advantage of Jacob Markstrom overplaying a pass and tucked it inside the post. The Canucks get get some shots afterwards, but none were of consequence to Robin Lehner. A powerplay in the second helped Vegas extend their lead. Shots by both Alex's (Martinez and Tuch) were stopped by Markstrom, but Reilly Smith was there to put in the rebound. The two-goal lead wasn't enough for the Golden Knights though. Midway through the period, Mark Stone would redirect Nate Schmidt's point shot, resulting in the puck beating a screened Markstrom. Alex Tuch would get a goal of his own later in the period, racing past a couple Canucks defenders to get a loose puck and lift it over Markstrom. The other story line of the game was extinguished early in the third, as Antoine Roussel was given a misconduct penalty after jawing with Ryan Reeves (who was making chicken noises at Roussel earlier in the game). Vegas added one more to their score halfway through the third as Max Pacioretty fired a pass from Stone by the shoulder of Markstrom. Lehner stopped 26 saves in his shutout bid, as the 5-0 win put Vegas out in front of the series.
Vancouver Canucks - 5
Vegas Golden Knights - 2Vancouver didn't waste time in responding to a dismal performance last game. Just 1:29 into the first, Elias Petterson found an open Tyler Toffoli, who had no issue putting the puck into the Vegas net. Halfway through the period, it was Toffoli doing the dishing, finding Bo Horvat in the slot. The Canucks captain wasted no time in snapping the puck past Lehner. The Golden Knights looked to rebound in the second, and did manage to get one back. Nicolas Roy set one up for Tuch, who proceeded to snap the puck past Markstrom. Despite the sustained pressure and multiple chances, Tuch's goal was the lone one for Vegas in the second. Vancouver would restore the two-goal lead late in the period, as Pettersson got a pass in the slot, deked around Lehner, and slide the puck into the net. It didn't take long for the Canucks to add to their lead in the third, as just 18 seconds in Horvat lifted one over Lehner's pad for his second of the game. A powerplay late in the game helped Vegas get one back, as Pacioretty's one-timer beat a screened Markstrom. It didn't make much, as Tanner Pearson scored an empty netter less than a minute later.
Vegas Golden Knights - 3
Vancouver Canucks - 0
Vegas got the scoring started early. First was Tuch, who extended his scoring streak by beating Markstrom on a breakaway. Moments later, an offensive turnover forced by Vegas soon led to Zach Whitecould ending up with the puck, resulting in the Vegas defenseman wristing it past a screened Markstrom to make it 2-0. Tyler Mottw had one of the Canucks better chances midway through the period, blocking a shot and recovering the loose puck on a breakaway. Lehner had other ideas though, stopping the shot with his blocker. Despite the shot advantage, Vancouver was unable to beat Lehner in the first period. Vegas took over the shot counter in the second, but was unable to add to their lead in the middle frame. It wasn't until early in the third when the Golden Knights managed to add another goal. A powerplay opportunity saw Stone get the puck and snipe it over the blocker of Markstrom and into the corner of the net. The Canucks efforts were all for naught, as Lehner stopped 31 shots en route to his second shutout of the series. Vegas' win put them back in the series lead.
Vancouver Canucks - 3
Both teams were back at it the next day, with Vegas looking to extend their series lead. Their chances looked good midway through the first, thanks to Pacioretty's powerplay goal. The Canucks soon responded with a powerplay goal of their own, as Pettersson sniped one over the glove of Marc-Andre Fleury. Just two minutes later, the Golden Knights were back in the lead. A 3-on-2 saw Chandler Stephenson and Shea Theodore pass between each other, with Chandler taking the one-timer that resulted in the goal. The Canucks got a couple chances later in the period, but it wasn't until early in the second when they re-tied the game. A point shot by Alex Edler deflected off J.T. Miller and Horvat, sliding into the Vegas crease. Horvat was there to poke in the puck, tying the game. Pettersson almost got his second of the game minutes later, but Fleury flashed the glove to take away what looked like a goal. Vancouver kept up the pressure though, and a powerplay moments later was the break they needed. Quinn Hughes started the rush, and Toffoli finished it, snapping the puck over the shoulder of Fleury. Vancouver stayed in the lead until early in the third. Just under three minutes into the third frame, Schmidt blasted a point shot that snuck under the blocker of Markstrom. This was the start of a Vegas rally. About five minutes later, an odd-man rush resulted in Schmidt's pass going off the skate of Pacioretty and into the Vancouver net. Soon after, Pacioretty would be the playmaker, as he found an open William Karlsson by the Vancouver net. Karlsson had no trouble finishing off the play, redirecting the pass past the pad of Markstrom. A late powerplay wasn't enough for Vancouver to amount a comeback, as Vegas held on for a 5-3 win.
Vancouver Canucks - 2
Vegas Golden Knights - 1 Vancouver made a goaltending change before the game, giving Thatcher Demko the start. Demko didn't seem fazed though, and while was challenged too much in the fist, managed to stop every thing that was shot at him. His counterpart, Lehner, has much the same, as both goalies were perfect through one. Vegas did break open the scoring late in the second. Shortly after a powerplay expired, Shea Theodore deked around a couple of Vancouver defenders and lift it over the glove of Demko. The Golden's Knight's lead would lasted all of 24 seconds. Brock Boeser give-and-go with Miller resulted in Boeser redirected the return pass under the blocker of Lehner to tie the game. Boeser also helped the Canucks take the lead early in the third, as his shot was deflected by Pettersson before beating a screened Lehner. While Vegas attempted to tie the game, Demko was determine to not let another one by him. The Canucks goaltender stopped 42 of 43 shots in his NHL playoff debut, helping Vancouver win 2-1 and forcing a Game 6.
Vegas Golden Knights - 0
Vancouver Canucks - 4
Vancouver started out aggressive, and it would pay off minutes into the game. Jake Virtanen scored 2:50 in, beating an unsuspecting Lehner. After the flurry by Vancouver, Vegas would start taking over the shot counter, and control play for most of the second. Demko continued to be in their way though, as the Canucks goalie continued his momentum from the previous game. Just over a minute into the third period, Miller would extend Vancouver's lead. The Canucks forward snapped one past a screened Lehner to make it 2-0. A couple of coincidental minors led to 4-on-4 for a few minutes. The Canucks capitalized on this, as Quinn Hughes' shot from the top of the faceoff circle hit the post and went in, as Lehner was once again screened and unable to stop the shot. The Golden Knights kept up their pressure though, looking to get on the scoreboard. An early goalie pull was unsuccessful though, as Horvat scored on the empty net to add to the Canucks lead. Demko remained perfect to the end, stopping 48 shots for his first playoff shutout. Vancouver's win pushed the series to the limit, as a Game 7 was needed to determined a series winner.
Vancouver Canucks - 0
Vegas Golden Knights - 3 Game 7 started out as a goaltending duel, as in the goaltender Demko was dueling the offense of the Golden Knights. It wasn't hte Canucks goalie's busiest period of teh series, but he was key stopping all 11 shots the Golden Knights took. Lehner, by contrast, only needed to make two shot in the first 20 minutes. Lehner was busier in the second, stopping four shots, including robbing Boeser on a 2-on-1 with a glove save. Vegas' conited pressure almost paid off later in the period, as Theodroe's point shot hit a body in the slot and trickled into the crease, only to hit the post. Demko continued to keep his team in the game in the third, making a sliding blocker save on Marchessault early in the period. A powerplay later in the period was what Vegas needed to solved Demko. Just after the ensuing faceoff in the Vacnouver zone, Theodore wrist a shot from the point that found it's way through a couple bodies, hit the post, and bounce into the net. Vancouver pulled Demko early, hoping the extra attacker would help tie the. Between Lehner and post though, that was not to be. Empty netters by Tuch and Paul Stastny put the game away for good. Lehner's had 14 saves in the shutout effort, his third of the series. The win finished the series for Veagas, as they moved on to the next round.
Three Thoughts on the Series
- *Chicken Noises*
- Vancouver's goaltending stole the show for the most part. Markstrom and Demko were a huge reason the Canucks push this series longer than it should have.
- #STICKGATE #STICKGATE #STICKGATE
Picture(s) of the Series
Normally I use this space for levity, and I'll do that, but also have a serious note to go here as well. So here are two pictures: one funny and one serious.
The Funny:
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
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| (Image via Russian Machine Never Breaks, as Alan Walsh deleted the original tweet) |
The Serious:
It sucks that the NHL also seems to be late to the party on social issues, and the league always seems to put in a disappointing effort addressing them. Credit to the players taking charge this time (especially the players in this series as it seems they drove the effort behind this to follow the NBA players lead). Full player press conference can be watched here.
Highlight of the Series
There were some nice gaols during this series, but the glove save by Lehner gets the top spot.
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