Golden Knights miss playoffs, lose to Blackhawks in seven-round shootout

CHICAGO --The Vegas Golden Knights were eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention with a 4-3 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Wednesday.

Tyler Johnson scored the only goal of the shootout, in the seventh round. It was the third straight game to go to a shootout and the second straight that went seven rounds for the Golden Knights, who went 0-for-17 in the three tiebreakers.
"I don't know," Vegas coach Pete DeBoer said. "I don't know how to explain that. I feel bad for our goalie (Logan Thompson). "I thought 'LT' did a great job in the shootouts (three goals on 17 shots), giving us a chance, and how do you explain that many good players don't find the net? I don't have an explanation for it."
It is the first time in their five NHL seasons the Golden Knights failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Taylor Raddysh scored two goals, Sam Lafferty had two assists, and Kevin Lankinen made 37 saves for the Blackhawks (28-42-11), who had lost four of six but won their final home game of the season.
"Well, we got the fans out of their seats," Chicago coach Derek King said. "We gave them some entertainment. I'd like to hear what they're saying when they're walking to their cars. It was a good entertainment night. It was a good game for us. I know the other coaches. I know Pete and [assistant coach Steve Spott]. I feel for them, but our job is to win a hockey game, so I'm glad we did."

Chandler Stephenson had three assists, and Thompson made 37 saves for the Golden Knights (42-31-8), who have lost five of six (1-2-3).
"That's why you play," Stephenson said, referring to the playoffs. "From the beginning of the year, [training] camp, you're getting ready for the playoffs. It's obviously disappointing. It's not where we want to be but again, injuries and crazy injuries, too, throughout the year. Yeah, it's tough, for sure."
Raddysh put the Blackhawks ahead 1-0 at 16:01 of the first period when he skated in from the right wing, went behind the net and banked the puck in off the right skate of Thompson.
Michael Amadio tied it 1-1 at 17:39, taking a cross-ice pass from Shea Theodore and scoring on a one-timer from the goal line on the left side.
Raddysh scored his second at 19:59, poking in the third rebound of his own shot after Lafferty moved in and had his shot blocked. Linemate Philipp Kurashev also had an assist.
"We're hard on the puck," Raddysh said. "I feel like [Lafferty], [Kurashev] and myself just kind of forced their 'D' to turn the pucks over and got our chances off of that. On both of my goals, 'Laff' and 'Kursh' had some big turnovers and just led to opportunities for us, and I just happened to find the back of the net."

Alec Martinez tied the game at 2-2 at 3:57 of the second period. The face-off draw from Stephenson went back to Martinez in the slot, and he scored on a wrist shot.
Caleb Jones put Chicago back in front 3-2 at 5:03 when he intercepted a pass, moved in from the right point and scored from the slot.
"It was fun," Jones said. "Obviously everyone knows it's been a long year, a lot of ups and downs. It's been mostly down. It was to give the fans a big win there. We tried to come out and play hard and kind of try to play spoilers. … We wanted to beat those guys and kind of send them home, too. It was fun to get the win."
Max Pacioretty tied it 3-3 at 17:12, tipping in Brayden McNabb's shot from the left point.
"You don't hate your game in those games, but at the same time you didn't do enough to win them in regulation or overtime to make sure that there's no question marks," Pacioretty said. "There'll be a lot of regret this summer, a lot of reflection but … I never lost hope. Right now, it makes it even more difficult to digest."
NOTES: Stephenson has 43 assists. Only David Perron (50 in 2017-18) and Jonathan Marchessault (48 in 2017-18) have had more assists in a season for the Golden Knights. … Stephenson had his four-game goal streak end but has seven points (four goals, three assists) in the past five games. … The Blackhawks finish the season at the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. King said he is unsure of his starting goalie, but that he'd like to see Collin Delia in another game. Delia has played in seven games this season, starting five. … Raddysh has six goals in 20 games since he was acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 18. He scored five goals in 53 games with the Lightning.