Crawford Stars As Blackhawks Beat Golden Knights 3-1

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Corey Crawford made 46 saves in a stellar performance, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-1 on Sunday night to stay alive in their first-round playoff series.

Drake Caggiula and Matthew Highmore scored first-period goals for the Blackhawks, and Alex DeBrincat added an empty-netter with 10 seconds left. Chicago handed Robin Lehner his first loss in a Golden Knights uniform since the goaltender was acquired in a trade with the Blackhawks in February.

Vegas suffered its first loss since arriving in Edmonton for the NHL restart. The Golden Knights will have another chance to close out the Blackhawks in Game 5 on Tuesday.

Shea Theodore scored his fourth playoff goal for Vegas in the first period when his shot from the point slipped through traffic in front of the net. But it was the only time the Golden Knights managed to beat Crawford on a night when the playoff-tested veteran was the best player on the ice.

The #Blackhawks live to fight another day! Game 5 is on Tuesday!#HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN #HAWKSWIN pic.twitter.com/ljv3objkbb

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 17, 2020

Crawford, who was in net when Chicago won the Stanley Cup in 2013 and 2015, set a playoff career high for saves in a game that didn’t go to overtime.

Playing less than 24 hours after a 2-1 loss in Game 3, Crawford was under attack from the outset, especially after the Blackhawks took a 2-0 lead on Highmore’s unexpected goal. Highmore threw a shot on net from below the goal line and got a fortunate deflection when Lehner attempted to redirect the puck with his head, but instead sent it into his net.

Corey Crawford’s 46 saves are the third-most by a @NHLBlackhawks goaltender when facing elimination (since 1955-56). The only goaltender with more since 1955-56: Tony Esposito (52 in Game 3 of 1975 PRLM & 49 in Game 4 of 1970 SF). #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/NCw4v25O52

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) August 17, 2020

Theodore’s shot slipped through, but nothing else did. Crawford was up to every challenge, especially as the Golden Knights continued to test him with high shots to the glove side. Crawford made a diving save on Max Pacioretty and stuffed William Karlsson on a breakaway in the second period.

But Crawford’s best sequence may have come midway through the third period when he stopped Karlsson’s attempt with his mask, and then gloved Zach Whitecloud’s wrist shot from inside the right circle.

Final: 3-1 them

Series: 3-1 us

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) August 17, 2020

Chicago’s penalty killers also had a solid night. Vegas went 0 for 3 with the man advantage and has not scored a power-play goal in the series. The Blackhawks have killed off the past 14 power plays dating to its qualifying round matchup with Edmonton.

Lehner had won all seven of his starts since arriving in Vegas — three in the regular season and four in Edmonton. Lehner made 22 saves.

Start time for Game 5 is set for 7:30 p.m. PT Tuesday on AT&T SportsNet 📺

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) August 17, 2020

NOTES: D Duncan Keith moved into fifth place on Chicago’s career list for playoff assists with 68, moving ahead of Bobby Hull. Keith assisted on Highmore’s goal. … Chicago blocked 32 shots. … Vegas had not trailed in the series until Caggiula’s goal.