If the previous rounds were any indication, we are in for a mouthwatering offensive matchup when the Golden Knights and Blackhawks face off in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The two sides combined for 31 goals through the round robin/qualifying rounds, meaning that goaltending could be a key factor in determining who goes through to round two. So let’s break down that key matchup and the head-to-heads in every stage of the game.
Goaltending
Vegas has the benefit of what should be a tandem situation with the likes of Marc-André Fleury and Robin Lehner, the latter of which was outstanding during the round robin. Lehner faced 63 shots across his two outings and saved 56 of them, good for a .903 save percentage. Fleury, on the other hand, looked lackadaisical in his lone performance, stopping 13 of 17 shots for a .765 save percentage.
DeBoer has said that if the team gets to where they want to go, it will be because they used that duo to the best of its abilities. He is undoubtedly right, but from the looks of the numbers from the seeding round, Lehner should bear the brunt of the load. That being said, Fleury is in his 14th consecutive postseason and has a history of coming alive when it counts the most.
For their part, Chicago is relying on a resurging Corey Crawford. After a shaky regular season and missing almost all of training camp due to a positive COVID-19 test, wondering which Crawford would show up was one of the biggest question marks surrounding the team. The answer originally looked to be the Crawford on the decline from the regular season as he posted a 5.00 GAA and a .844 save percentage through the first two games against the Oilers.
The second two games were, however, a wholly different story. Through games three and four, Crawford was peppered with 108 shots, of which he saved 97 for a .898 save percentage with a 3.67 GAA. While the difference may not be astoundingly different, the shots faced alone shows the uptick in his form. In order for the Blackhawks to stand a chance against the Golden Knights, Crawford is going to have to continue improving throughout the first round.
Defence
The Golden Knights blue line has seen a huge boost this year with the rise of Shea Theodore who has continued to turn heads throughout the playoffs. The youngster had four goals through the team’s three round robin games, not to mention a plethora of big time defensive plays. Alongside him is Stanley Cup veteran, Alec Martinez. The guidance that the former L.A. King has been able to provide his young partner has undoubtedly aided his growth, as well as elevated the play of the entire defensive core.
Ahead of those two are Nate Schmidt and Brayden McNabb, one of the best shutdown pairings in the league who have continued their impeccably solid form. This is important for a Vegas team that will be trying to shutdown Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and the breakout Dominik Kubalik.
On the other side of the ice, Duncan Keith is aging like fine wine. At 37, he banked 28 minutes of ice time in Chicago’s fourth game against Edmonton, and he looked cool, calm, and collected in the hottest of moments. His partner is holding his own as well. 19-year-old Adam Boqvist has not looked out of place next to the three-time Stanley Cup champion and would need to continue playing at this level to have a chance at nullifying the explosiveness of the Vegas offence.
Offence
If the 31 combined goals don’t tell you what we’re getting into, nothing will. Each team has their big guns, as well as an incredible depth that runs throughout their lineup. In essence, the talent up top essentially cancels each other out in terms of potency.
Who Wins And Why
All things being equal in each team’s offensive ability, the reality is the series win will come in between the crease. Whichever goalie(s) will be able to improve on their first round performances will stand the better chance to see their team through to round two.
At the end of the day, Vegas has the edge in net and will ultimately win the series because of it. The depth of a tandem versus relying on an aging netminder who has been inconsistent offers more confidence and security in the most valuable position. In what is guaranteed to be a high scoring series, the duo of Fleury and Lehner will be able to stand tall against the onslaught and see the Golden Knights through to the conference semifinals.