The Chicago Blackhawks gave up a short-handed goal on their first power play. Patrick Kane clanked an open shot off the post. Alex DeBrincat bashed his stick in frustration after coming up empty on six shots in the first two periods.
Through three games, that has been the Blackhawks’ fortunes in a nutshell: Costly mistakes and missed opportunities.
Corey Crawford made several highlight-reel saves in the second period Saturday and Olli Maatta broke a Hawks’ scoring drought in the third, but it wasn’t enough to stave off the Vegas Golden Knights, who won 2-1 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
William Karlsson and Patrick Brown scored for Vegas.
The Hawks entered Game 3 with a sense of desperation, but a few lineup changes threw some wrinkles that could’ve worked in their favour.
Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer opted to sit goalie Robin Lehner, who has been undefeated for Vegas since the Hawks traded him away in February, and instead started Marc-André Fleury, the everyday starter before Lehner’s arrival. Fleury had played in only one game in the bubble — against the St. Louis Blues during the round robin.
Paul Stastny was a Knights scratch, but top scorer Max Pacioretty was back after being ruled unfit to play in Game 2.
On the Hawks’ side, Kane started on the top line with Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad, a second straight line shakeup in a bid for offence. Defenceman Adam Boqvist returned after last game’s scratch.
Fleury showed no signs of being rusty, denying the Hawks on several great chances until Maatta got a wrist shot to squirt underneath the goalie’s arm.
The Hawks’ post-season problem of conceding early leads continued, but they hurt their own cause on the first goal Saturday.
During a power play, Duncan Keith lost control and turned the puck over to Mark Stone, who fed Karlsson on a breakaway.
Boqvist had a lapse in the second while defending Brown and the Knights centre was able to pot his first playoff goal.
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Kane’s long pass to Caggiula initiated a rush with Caggiula and Maatta, who fired from the circle for the Hawks’ only goal.
Fleury finished with 26 saves and Crawford had 24.