The Golden Knights now hold a 2-1 series lead over the Vancouver Canucks. Thanks to a shut out by goaltender Robin Lehner, the Canucks will be forced to find a way to solve a netminder who looks almost unbeatable when he’s on his game.
The Canucks probably shouldn’t have been down 2-0 nothing when the first period ended. Lehner stole any chances created by his opponent and the Canucks could have been up based on the pressure they put on Vegas to start the game. A hot Lehner turned everything away.
Kelly Hrudey said in the post-game analysis, Lehner won the game for the Golden Knights in the first. He stopped 16 of the 32 total shots on net by Vancouver and thanks to his performance in the opening 20 minutes, those stops were all the Golden Knights needed to hold the lead.
The Emotional Pause Didn’t Affect His Game
The win comes after the NHL returned to action following a two-day pause for reflection. When asked about the postponed games and whether that made a difference, Lehner said he is pretty good at putting things away when it comes time to play. He did admit that the break was an emotional time.
Wearing a hat in support of the Hockey Diversity cause during his post-game comments, when probed for who he thinks might get the next start for Vegas in Game 4, Lehner said it didn’t matter. There is talk that Marc-Andre Fleury could get the nod because the team plays again in under 24 hours and Lehner has no issue with that decision, if it comes to be.
He added that despite what people might think or how the media has created a narrative that there is friction in the locker room, Lehner noted the team is nothing but supportive and that if Fleury gets the start, he hopes that everyone can get behind the decision.
That said, it’s hard to imagine the Golden Knights go with anyone other than Lehner who seems to have the number of the Canucks. A humble Lehner said after the game, “I thought we had a good game today.” He added, ” in the second and third, I thought the guys really helped me out.”
Next: Corey Crawford Reveals What Will Keep Him With Blackhawks
