Reilly Smith scored in overtime, Robin Lehner made 22 saves and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 on Thursday to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round series.
Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford stopped 35 of the 39 shots he faced in a losing effort. Crawford and Lehner were teammates with Chicago until the trade deadline.
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Reilly Smith scored in overtime, Robin Lehner made 22 saves and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 on Thursday to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round series.
This was the third game already in the first round to go to overtime. Tampa Bay beat Columbus in the fifth overtime Tuesday, and Boston beat Carolina in double OT Wednesday. Smith's goal came 7:13 into the first OT.
Chicago got goals from rookies Kirby Dach and Dominik Kubalik in the second to tie it. Mark Stone restored the lead for Vegas with 2:40 left in the period, then Dylan Strome got it right back for the Blackhawks 13.6 seconds before intermission.
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Vegas Golden Knights' William Karlsson (71)watches as Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) makes a save during the third period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Vegas Golden Knights' Nicolas Roy (10) and Chicago Blackhawks' Slater Koekkoek (68) reach for the loose puck during the third period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Vegas Golden Knights' Alex Tuch (89) and Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) have a laugh after colliding during the third period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Vegas Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner (90) makes the save on Chicago Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews (19) during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Vegas Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner (90) is scored on as Chicago Blackhawks' Dylan Strome (17) celebrates and Golden Knights' Nate Schmidt (88) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Vegas Golden Knights' William Karlsson (71) is stopped by Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
The Western Conference top-seeded Golden Knights are looking for their first playoff series victory since 2018. They reached the Stanley Cup Final that year, then lost to San Jose in seven games in the first round last year.
Vegas Golden Knights' Nicolas Roy (10) and Chicago Blackhawks' Dylan Strome (17) collide during the third period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
This was the third game already in the first round to go to overtime. Tampa Bay beat Columbus in the fifth overtime Tuesday, and Boston beat Carolina in double OT Wednesday. Smith's goal came 7:13 into the first OT.
The Golden Knights were without regular-season leading scorer Max Pacioretty, who only joined them in the Edmonton bubble last week.
Paul Stastny opened the scoring for Vegas 10:44 in after strong work down low by Smith and Jonathan Marchessault. Tomas Nosek, who replaced Pacioretty in the lineup, made it 2-0 at the 15:35 mark of the first period.
Vegas Golden Knights' Paul Stastny (26) and Chicago Blackhawks' Slater Koekkoek (68) battle in front as Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) makes the save during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Chicago got goals from rookies Kirby Dach and Dominik Kubalik in the second to tie it. Mark Stone restored the lead for Vegas with 2:40 left in the period, then Dylan Strome got it right back for the Blackhawks 13.6 seconds before intermission.
Patrick Kane assisted on all three Chicago goals in the second period. Crawford made 16 of his saves in the third period.
NOTES: Nosek took his last shift with three and a half minutes left in the second period and did not return. ... Rookie D Lucas Carlsson made his Stanley Cup playoff debut, replacing Adam Boqvist on the Blackhawks blue line. ... Stastny’s goal was his 23rd in the playoffs in his career, the most among Vegas players.
Vegas Golden Knights' Mark Stone (61) and Jonathan Marchessault (81) celebrate a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey series in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP
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Chicago Blackhawks' Dylan Strome (17) celebrates a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Vegas Golden Knights' William Karlsson (71)watches as Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) makes a save during the third period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Vegas Golden Knights' Nicolas Roy (10) and Chicago Blackhawks' Slater Koekkoek (68) reach for the loose puck during the third period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Vegas Golden Knights' Alex Tuch (89) and Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) have a laugh after colliding during the third period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Vegas Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner (90) makes the save on Chicago Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews (19) during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Vegas Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner (90) is scored on as Chicago Blackhawks' Dylan Strome (17) celebrates and Golden Knights' Nate Schmidt (88) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)
Vegas Golden Knights' William Karlsson (71) is stopped by Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)