Trade-offs, can pay off. In Game Two against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Vegas Golden Knights reaped the benefits of their trade deadline deals. A 4-3 overtime victory, featuring big performances from their acquisitions, has the Golden Knights sitting pretty with 2-0 series lead.
Once again, the Golden Knights started the scoring with Paul Stastny's first of the playoffs. For much of the game, the second line was their best line and they fittingly opened the scoring. Stastny brought the puck into the Hawks' zone and got it deep where Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault went to work. Marchessault ended up finding Stastny out front for an easy one-time goal.
Tomas Nosek, the pre and post season All Star, followed that goal with one of his own, nearly five minutes later. He was able to beat Corey Crawford on a beautifully placed shot, with zero traffic in front of the netminder. Nosek has been a very good playoff performer over his three years in Vegas.
Four goals were scored in the second period, three of them by the Blackhawks. Rookie Kirby Dach scored his first career playoff goal tapping in a loose puck behind Robin Lehner. Brayden McNabb let Dach behind him to play the puck and had no backup when they play made it to the blue paint.
They struck on the Power Play next, with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane working together to up to set up a goal. Toews dished off to Kane as he entered the VGK zone. Kane found Dominik Kubalik high and the should-be Rookie of the Year - 30 goals in 68 games - buried his shot off the far-side post.
Five minutes later, a 2019 and 2020 trade deadline acquisition linked up to put the Golden Knights back out front. Alec Martinez flung a wide-angle wrist shot off Crawford. The rebound hit Mark Stone on the opposite side of the goal, where he was able to locate the puck and finish. 3-2 Golden Knights, with 2:40 left on the clock, all was well.
Before the period could end, Dylan Strome and Kane hooked up for a beautiful goal, to knot the game right back up. Kane fired an incredible backhand pass across the goal mouth that Strome beautifully redirected in. That line wasn't good together in the Edmonton series - they had 0 GF vs 3 GA -, but they had a big moment here.
Neither team was able to score in the third period despite incredible pressure from the Golden Knights. They pushed the pace and peppered Crawford, to the tune of 16 SOG. In overtime, two more of their 2020 trade deadline pickups sealed their victorious fate.
Robin Lehner was great all night in goal. His calm, steady presence helps the team and they play a much smoother game in front of him. The game goes especially smooth when his skate blade remains intact. While Head Coach Pete DeBoer won't admit it, Lehner is THE guy.
Another spotlight should be shone on Nick Cousins. He was acquired for essentially peanuts (a 4th rounder) and has been a great role player, something he's made a career of. As a junior, Cousins was an offensive threat and he hasn't lost that skill set, although he embraces his role as a grinder.
As his line was headed off for a change, Cousins chipped a puck into the Chicago zone and chased. His pressure and drive created a turnover, directly leading to the goal. Before he could get off the ice, Stastny found the puck and sent it to his linemate Reilly Smith out front for the GWG. It was a beautiful sequence created by Cousins' determination.
It's safe to say Kelly McCrimmon is happy with his moves. Stone is a superstar, Martinez is eating big minutes, Cousins is providing much-needed playoff depth and versatility, and Lehner has become the number one goalie. Not many first-time GMs are validated that quickly, but he had a good mentor in George McPhee, who fleeced the whole league leading into the expansion draft.
Overall, the Golden Knights look very strong. They're fast, aggressive, and have a ton of talent in their top nine. They have shown a newfound ability to respond to adversity and win games which should suit them well in the postseason. Games Three and Four will be a weekend back-to-back set and it's almost a guarantee that Fleury will make one start.
Catch me on Twitter to stay up-to-date on your VGK news. I will be tracking the "Unfit to Play" Max Pacioretty and Tomas Nosek. Pacioretty played in Game One, but was ruled "Unfit" for Game Two, while Nosek's undisclosed injury came in-game.
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