3 things Golden Knights must do differently to beat the Avalanche in Game 2
After an embarrassing 7-1 loss in Game 1, the Vegas Golden Knights must be better against the Colorado Avalanche.
Every hockey fan got what they wanted in the second round when the Vegas Golden Knights began their second round series against the Colorado Avalanche. Unfortunately, as Mick Jagger once sang, “you can’t always get what you want”. Game 1 was certainly what Avalanche fans wanted, as the Avs won 7-1, but it wasn’t what everyone else wanted.
Blowouts are fun, but what fans wanted was a close game between two elite teams. There was only one elite team on the ice on Sunday night and it wasn’t the Golden Knights. Colorado looked like the Stanley Cup contenders everyone believed them to be and Vegas simply didn’t.
As devastating as Game 1 was for the Knights, it’s only one game. They are still very much in this series. The Knights lost Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild and still managed to win the series, though it took them seven games to do so.
Wednesday’s Game 2 isn’t technically a must win game, but it’s about as close to one as you can get. The Avalanche are a lethal team and the last thing the Knights need is a 2-0 series deficit against them. What can the Golden Knights do to shift the series back in their favor? Here’s a look at three adjustments they should make.
Three things the Golden Knights need to do in Game 2
1. Start Marc-Andre Fleury
The Golden Knights made a very curious decision in Game 1 to go with Robin Lehner in goal instead of Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury has been their No. 1 goalie all postseason, as he started each of their seven games in the first round. Even if the Knights thought he was fatigued or tired, with two days off after Game 1, they should have started him.
That isn’t to say Lehner was the reason the Golden Knights lost in Game 1. Far from it. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Avs had significantly more scoring chances than the Knights (28 to 14 to be exact). But Lehner allowed several goals he’d really like to have back.
The Knights need to go with Fleury in Game 2 for two reasons. First of all, he went 4-3-0 against the Avalanche during the regular season with two shutouts. Secondly, Fleury has a ton of postseason experience while Lehner doesn’t. Fleury got the Golden Knights to the second round, so why not go back to him?