3 Keys: Blackhawks vs. Golden Knights, Game 1 of Western First Round

Pacioretty should return for Vegas; Chicago tries to maintain scoring prowess

By Mike G. Morreale

@mikemorrealeNHL NHL.com Senior Draft Writer

August 11, 2020

No. 8 Blackhawks vs. No. 1 Golden Knights

10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS, ATTSN-RM, NBCSCH

Max Pacioretty is expected to be in the lineup for the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round against the Chicago Blackhawks at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Tuesday.

Pacioretty sustained an undisclosed injury that forced him to miss all three round-robin games in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. He arrived in Edmonton, the Western Conference hub city, a week ago, completed his quarantine Sunday and has been practicing with the team.

Vegas won each of its games in the round-robin to earn the No. 1 seed in the West. Chicago eliminated the Edmonton Oilers in four games in a best-of-5 qualifier series and is the No. 8 seed.

Here are 3 keys to Game 1:

1. Pacioretty's impact

Pacioretty, who led Vegas with 66 points (32 goals, 34 assists), 19 power-play points and eight power-play goals in 71 games this season, is expected to return to his regular spot on the top line with William Karlsson and Mark Stone.

"I think Max's workload will be identical to what it was [before the injury]," general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. "I don't think that will change in any way, shape or form. He's completely ready to go."

2. Lehner vs. Crawford in goal

Goalie Robin Lehner will start Game 1 for the Golden Knights and face his former team, who traded him to Vegas on Feb. 24. Lehner started two of the three games in the round-robin, going 2-0-0 with a 2.89 goals-against average and .903 save percentage. Marc-Andre Fleury, who had started Vegas' first 27 Stanley Cup Playoff games since entering the League in 2017-18, played in the Golden Knights' 6-4 win against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, making 13 saves on 17 shots.

"I think obviously a tough decision when you have two quality starting goaltenders," coach Peter DeBoer said. "I think the best way I can explain it regarding the decision is it wasn't what [Fleury] didn't do, [Fleury] was great. It's what Robin has done since he's got here. I think he's 5-0, and not just that, I thought he came into our camp after the pause was lights out and all the scrimmages. He has picked up right where he left off in the games, so this isn't a case of one guy not getting the job done, it's just one guy from the time he got here just being fantastic."

Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford, who missed all but the final day of training camp after testing positive for COVID-19, struggled in the first two games (5.00 GAA, .844 save percentage) of the qualifier series but improved as it went along. He stopped 97 of 108 shots in the final two games (3.67 GAA, .898 save percentage) and made 43 saves, including 20 in the third period, of a 3-2 win against the Oilers in Game 4.

3. On the offensive

Chicago and Vegas each received balanced offensive contributions throughout the lineup in the Qualifiers.

The Blackhawks are tied with the Calgary Flames for most goals scored (16) in the postseason. Six players (forwards Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Dominik Kubalik, Kirby Dach, and defensemen Olli Maatta and Duncan Keith) scored at least four points in the four games against the Oilers. Toews is fourth in playoff scoring with seven points (four goals, three assists).

"You sprinkle in some young talent with guys who have been superstars for quite some time and it makes it difficult to defend," Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt said about the Blackhawks. "If our forwards can come back hard and help us out, that allows us to play our gaps a little tighter. That's what's going to frustrate skilled players. If we can be up in their face the entire series and try and make them go through you instead of around you, that'll be the key to this series."

The Golden Knights are tied for third with the Oilers for most goals scored (15). Seven players (forwards Stone, Karlsson, Alex Tuch, Nicolas Roy, Nick Cousins, and defensemen Shea Theodore and Schmidt) each had at least three points in the round-robin.