LDN - Sports

Preview: Blackhawks at Golden Knights

[October 24, 2017] Gracenote

The Vegas Golden Knights keep winning games while losing goaltenders and look to continue their historic early-season run when the Chicago Blackhawks pay a visit Tuesday night. Vegas lost its No. 1 goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to a concussion, traded Calvin Pickard and waiver pickup Malcolm Subban was lost for at least four weeks with a lower-body injury in Saturday's 3-2 overtime victory over St. Louis.

Fleury is making progress and could be back soon - according to reports - but former Columbus second-round pick Oscar Dansk, who stopped 10 of 11 shots in Saturday's victory, will likely be in net Tuesday backed up by Maxime Lagace. "Oscar went in there and made some big saves and played well," Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant told the Las Vegas Review-Journal of Dansk's NHL debut. "Injuries are part of the NHL so it's the next guy up." Vegas is the first team to win six of the first seven games in its inaugural season, but the Blackhawks hope to take advantage of the Golden Knights' situation in net with a talented offense that is averaging 3.56 goals per contest. Former Hart Trophy winner Patrick Kane notched his fourth goal and team-leading 11th point as Chicago knocked off struggling Arizona 4-2 on Saturday to open a quick two-game road trip.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBCSN Chicago, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Vegas)

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (5-2-2): Chicago's offense has cooled off since scoring 15 times in the first two games while posting 17 tallies in the last seven contests, but the defense is among the league leaders at 2.44 goals against per outing. Goalie Corey Crawford has led the way with a solid .945 save percentage to go along with five wins and second-year defenseman Michal Kempny (plus-6 rating) in addition to rookie blueliner Jan Rutta (two goals, five points, plus-5) off to strong starts. Brandon Saad tops the team with six goals, but has been held off the scoresheet in each of the last three games.

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ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (6-1-0): Vegas continues to find ways to win - with three of their victories coming in overtime - and keep the puck out of its net (2.43 goals-against per contest). James Neal has not scored in three games, but leads the team with six goals overall and fellow forward Oscar Lindberg is the only other player with more than two tallies (three). Rookie Alex Tuch, given a chance with injuries to fellow forwards Jonathan Marchessault and Erik Haula, has posted two goals and an assist in three games with the Golden Knights after playing six scoreless games with Minnesota in 2016-17.

OVERTIME

1. Chicago RW Richard Panik is second on the team with five goals after scoring Saturday and needs one point to reach 100 in his career.

2. Vegas is 3-for-8 on the power play in the last two games after converting once in 21 opportunities over the first five contests.

3. Blackhawks C Nick Schmaltz has not posted a point since the season opener and managed two shots in three games since returning from missing four with an injury.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 6, Golden Knights 1

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