The Vegas Golden Knights are in search of any positive outcome tonight in Game 4, looking to regain their footing and take back the momentum the Minnesota Wild have built.
In Games 2 and 3, the Golden Knights have performed considerably lower than the expectations they've set for themselves. They've allowed far too many quality chances in front of their goal, and Adin Hill has not done a good enough job of bailing them out.
In the series, Hill has posted a .825 SV% and a 3.77 GAA, simply not good enough.
Hill isn't the only Golden Knight who's underperforming in the first round. Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, two forwards who've shown on several occasions they elevate their game in the playoffs, have not recorded a point, combined for just 10 shots, and they both have a +/- rating of -5. If the duo continue to ghost through games, Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy will continue to run all over the Golden Knights and make quick work of the series.
A win today maintains home ice advantage for the Golden Knights, something they desperately need. The Wild's atmosphere is lively.
"The series isn’t over. It’s 2-1. Would you like to be up 2-1 or 3-0? Of course. Who wouldn’t? But it’s never a bad thing to go through a little adversity and work a little bit harder to get what you want. What we want is Game 4," said the Golden Knights captain.
With the experience they possess, the Golden Knights know how important the mental side of the playoffs can be. HC Bruce Cassidy has attempted to rest his players during the opening round, looking to keep their minds away from hockey. He also believes that drastically shaking up the lines would indicate panic, and at the moment, he and the Golden Knights are in the belief that there is nothing to panic over.
If the Golden Knights can be more attentive on the defensive side of the puck, get contributions from their best players, and get better performances from their No.1 goaltender, they should be heading back to Vegas with the series tied.
If they don't, Kaprizov and Boldy will continue to run rampant and take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
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