8:40 pm
April 27

Golden Knights @ Blackhawks

Who will WIN this matchup?

Vegas Golden Knights (42-31-7)

@ Chicago Blackhawks (27-42-11)

 

Starting Goalies:

Logan Thompson (VGK): Unconfirmed

Kevin Lankinen (CHI): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

Vegas Golden Knights: (-200)

Chicago Blackhawks: (+165)

 

• The Vegas Golden Knights head into Wednesday night’s game at the Chicago Blackhawks with a playoff pulse — barely. After losing 3-2 in a seven-round shootout at Dallas on Tuesday night, the Golden Knights (42-31-7, 91 points) trail the Stars by four points. Two games remain for both teams.

• Vegas, which holds the regulation wins tiebreaker, 33-30, must win in regulation over the Blackhawks and Friday at St. Louis while also needing Arizona (Wednesday) and Anaheim (Friday) both to win in regulation at Dallas to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s five-year history.

• DeBoer admitted that defeating the Blackhawks in the second half of a back-to-back won’t be easy after the physical and emotional game with the Stars. “We’ve got to win,” DeBoer said. “It’s not perfect, back-to-back. We emptied the tank tonight. We don’t have a choice. We’ve got to find a way to re-energize here and get ready and win a game tomorrow.”

• The Golden Knights have lost back-to-back games in shootouts, dropping two key points in the process. Vegas also lost to San Jose in Las Vegas, 5-4, on Sunday and went a combined 0-for-10 in shootout attempts in the two losses.

• Chicago (27-42-11, 65 points) comes in off a 3-1 victory over Philadelphia on Monday and will be playing its final home game of the season. The Blackhawks play at Buffalo on Friday in their season finale.

• Chicago played Vegas tough this season, beating them 2-1 on Jan. 8 in Las Vegas behind 30 saves by former goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, and then blowing a 3-0 third-period lead in a 5-4 overtime loss on March 26 also in Las Vegas.

• The win over the Flyers on Monday was Chicago’s first in regulation since a 4-2 victory at Anaheim on March 23. It came after a morning pep talk from interim head coach Derek King about finishing the season on a strong note at home.

• Patrick Kane tied his career-high with his 66th assist on an Alex DeBrincat goal in the win.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Vegas Golden Knights
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