After goaltender Robin Lehner was traded to Vegas from Chicago at the trade deadline in February, not many Blackhawks fans expected to face off against the Swedish native during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, especially in August. However, one pandemic later, Chicago is “officially” in the playoffs for the first time since the 2016–17 season, leaving Lehner to see the “awkward” moment between himself and his former team.
“Awkward alert” –@RobinLehner 😂 pic.twitter.com/f0llBU2mDg
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) August 12, 2020
Chicago made the simple decision of starting two-time Stanley Cup champion Corey Crawford, creating a great storyline amongst former goalkeepers.
First period
Midway through the first period, both teams threw four shots on net, none that would be considered a high scoring chance. Vegas played a quick game early, only to be matched by Chicago’s well-structured start. This was a best-case scenario for the Blackhawks, as Vegas could play a heavy game at times that the Blackhawks would not match.
As Mike Emrick and Pierre McGuire mentioned a few different times during the broadcast, this period was a “feeling out” process for both teams. At the end of the first period, Vegas led in shots 9–5, holding Chicago without a shot for over a nine-minute stretch toward the end of the frame.
It's pretty clear that the #Blackhawks are trying to maintain control of the middle of the ice in the defensive zone, if the heat map on shots is any indication. pic.twitter.com/uBcB1F3Fdk
— James Neveau (@JamesNeveau) August 12, 2020
Second period
Chicago started the period with a few early chances by Jonathan Toews and Dylan Strome, both whom brushed the pipe behind Lehner. Strome’s attempt came as Lehner lost a skate blade, forcing the former Vezina Trophy finalist to make an awkward attempt on the shot.
no blade
no prob
¯_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/e6AiM2qYw6
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) August 12, 2020
The uneventful period turned a little physical between teams, as Ryan Reaves played his physical style and Toews and Jonathan Marchessault tussled along the benches as Toews was not happy about being pinned along the open door along the bench.
Things picked up quickly after the 7:22 mark of the period, as Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore scored the first goal of the game after firing a wrist shot past the glove of Crawford for a 1–0 Golden Knights lead. Theodore’s third goal of the playoffs was assisted by forward Reilly Smith and defenseman Alec Martinez.
Just over two minutes later, Vegas forward William Carrier bulled himself to the net, shoving Chicago forward Matthew Highmore to the ice, and pounced home a rebound shot from Reaves from the corner. The goal, Carrier’s second of the postseason, was assisted by Reaves and center Nicolas Roy, doubling the gap to 2–0. Chicago’s bench boss Jeremy Colliton challenged the play for offside only to be awarded a two-minute penalty when the goal was upheld.
While shorthanded, Chicago forward Brandon Saad made an excellent play stripping the puck from Theodore and finding forward David Kampf, who beat Lehner glove side, cutting the Vegas lead to 2–1. The goal gave Kampf his first goal of the postseason.
David Kampf scores shorthanded for his first career playoff goal, but this play started with Brandon Saad. What an effort. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/eN9N5sahlp
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) August 12, 2020
At the end of the period, Vegas led 2–1 on the scoreboard and 21–14 in shots. Chicago was lucky to find the back of the net while shorthanded since Vegas clamped down on the Blackhawks in their own zone for much of the first two periods of play.
Third period
Vegas extended their lead to 3–1 when Smith beat Crawford for his first goal of the postseason. Crawford made a half-hearted attempt at a blocker save only to find the puck bounce over his shoulder and into the net. The “soft” goal was an early backbreaker for the Blackhawks.
You can never shoot the puck too hard 👍#VegasBorn | @Raising_Canes pic.twitter.com/JYitH6a4ES
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) August 12, 2020
After some end-to-end action, Smith scored his second goal of the period at the 8:14 mark of the period. The Etobicoke, Ontario, native beat Crawford with a slick backhand over the glove hand of Crawford on a break to the net. The goal extended the Vegas lead to 4–1 and showed the top seed in the Western Conference could turn up the heat on the Blackhawks in a blink of an eye.
Classic NHL20 goal…#CHIvsVGK #StanleyCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/dIW5gi6MmZ
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) August 12, 2020
At the end of the day, the only thing that was “awkward” about the matchup between Lehner and his former mates occurred when he lost his skate blade on two separate occasions. Vegas played a simple game and forced Chicago to generate their own offensive chances, which the eighth-seeded team could not accomplish. Vegas did not make many mistakes and outclassed the Blackhawks over the course of 60 minutes.