The Chicago Blackhawks entered tonight’s game with the Vegas Golden Knights having picked up a point in three straight games. Vegas had been handed a tough 5–0 defeat at the hands of the New York Rangers at home on Sunday. That loss ended a five-game point streak for the Golden Knights.
Head Coach Jeremy Colliton started Corey Crawford in net and inserted rookie defenseman Adam Boqvist into the lineup in place of Slater Koekkoek. Olli Maatta remained out with flu-like symptoms and Matthew Highmore was a healthy scratch.
Marc-Andre Fleury started in net for Vegas.
Blackhawks’ Starting Lines and Pairings:
Brandon Saad — Jonathan Toews — Dominik Kubalik
Alex DeBrincat — Dylan Strome — Patrick Kane
Zack Smith— David Kampf — Dylan Sikura
Alexander Nylander — Kirby Dach — Ryan Carpenter
Connor Murphy— Erik Gustafsson
Calvin de Haan — Brent Seabrook
Dennis Gilbert — Adam Boqvist
PERIOD ONE:
Vegas spent much of their time playing a heavy game, leading in hits 12–3, but Chicago answered their physicality with sound tape-to-tape passes that generated offense in the Vegas zone.
Golden Knights’ forward Mark Stone took the game’s first penalty, interfering with Calvin de Haan at the 17:46 mark. de Haan went off to the Blackhawks’ dressing room after the play with an apparent injury. The Chicago power play could not generate much sustained pressure and did not capitalize.
Stone, fresh out of the penalty box, tried to go forehand-backhand on a breakaway on Crawford, only to be denied.
In what was an exciting period of play, the goaltenders stole the show. Crawford stopped all 13 shots he faced in the period while Fleury turned aside 12 Blackhawks’ shots.
Both Kirby Dach and Ryan Carpenter generated five shots for the period. The two forwards, along with Alexander Nylander, played solid hockey for seeing less than 3:45 of ice time for the frame.
PERIOD TWO:
If the first period was considered a draw, the second period was controlled by Vegas. To make matters worse, de Haan was ruled out with a right shoulder injury.
Vegas received their first power play opportunity after Dennis Gilbert went off for hooking against Paul Stastny. With three seconds left on the man advantage, forward Reilly Smith beat Crawford to give the Golden Knights the 1–0 lead.
Chill, @GoldenKnights pic.twitter.com/JlLPvdb9o5
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) December 11, 2019
After a Chicago turnover, Vegas defenseman Deryk Engelland extended the Vegas lead to 2–0. Engelland’s goal beat Crawford top-shelf, giving the 37-year old his first goal of the season.
Chill, @GoldenKnights pic.twitter.com/JlLPvdb9o5
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) December 11, 2019
Chicago’s best sustained pressure in the period resulted in Adam Boqvist hitting the goal post with a little under seven minutes to play. At this point in the period, Vegas had outshot the visitors 11–2.
With just over two minutes in the period, Dominik Kubalik chased town a loose puck and fed Jonathan Toews with a nice cross ice pass that finished with an excellent save by Fleury. Toews’ rebound attempt was also smothered by Fleury.
The good news late in the period was Chicago’s second power play opportunity, coming when forward Alex Tuch slashed Erik Gustafsson. The bad news, Vegas scored a shorthanded goal when forward William Karlsson had a wide-open net after a nice fake shot and drag play from Smith pulled Crawford out of his crease. The goal gave Vegas the 3–0 lead.
Not nice. pic.twitter.com/gKxz9ErMGV
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) December 11, 2019
Vegas scored an even strength, shorthanded and on the power play in the period and outshot Chicago 16–8.
A frustrated Corey Crawford after Golden Knights score three straight in second period. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/hMZkap74vR
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 11, 2019
THIRD PERIOD:
Vegas took a 4–0 lead when Stone found forward Max Pacioretty at the door step, slipping a pass by a sliding Brent Seabrook. The goal was Pacioretty’s eleventh goal for Vegas this season.
A beautiful goal with a side of #ExpressiveMarkStone 😍 pic.twitter.com/BQaiKZhrGw
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) December 11, 2019
To add insult to injury, forward Ryan Reaves beat Crawford to give Vegas a 5–0 lead with a tick under seven minutes to play in the game. Reaves’ goal was his third this season.
Kubalik scored his eighth goal of the season at the 19:33 mark in the period. The goal spoiled Fleury’s bid for a shutout and gave Chicago fans, those that may have still been watching, something to enjoy during the 5–1 loss.
Dominik Kubalik won't let the #Blackhawks leave scoreless in Las Vegas 🚨 pic.twitter.com/3WdP9Aszkq
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) December 11, 2019
THE GOOD:
The hockey game ended.
THE BAD:
Kirby Dach totaled 13:00 of ice time. The young man has shown he can play at this level. Give him an opportunity to play alongside someone that can generate offense with him. Carpenter and Nylander are not those guys.
Calvin de Haan was the only Blackhawk not to finish in the minus (yes it’s a poor stat overall but this one tells a funny story). de Haan only played 7:35 but that is quite the feat for Chicago.
Chicago was mediocre at best when healthy. The growing list of injuries seems to be highlighting a lack of depth.
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