Blackhawks vs. Golden Knights Recap: Eichel's 3 Points Lead 9 Cashes

The Golden Knights beat the Blackhawks 5-2. Vegas scored twice in the 1st, first on a Victor Olofsson power-play goal at 10:30 and then on a Trevor Connelly tip-in at 15:22. Chicago pulled within one twice, on Jordan Greenway's goal in the 2nd and Patrick Kane's wrist shot at 4:04 of the 3rd, but Vegas answered each time. Jack Eichel restored the two-goal lead at 15:12 of the 2nd, Noah Hanifin scored 39 seconds after Kane, and Mark Stone added an empty-netter at 17:27 of the 3rd. Vegas outshot Chicago 37-26. Carter Hart made 24 saves on 26 shots for Vegas. Nine DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

ALT: Blackhawks under 3.5 team total goals (alt): CASHED - Our read: Chicago scored 2.56 a game last season with Bedard, who starts this season on IR after shoulder surgery, and scored 3 or fewer in all three games against Vegas. - What happened: Chicago scored 2, 1.5 under the line, and never had a power-play goal on its two chances. - Worth watching: Chicago team totals are worth a look while Bedard is out.

ALT: Under 7.5 total goals (alt): CASHED - Our read: The market projected about 6 goals, and last season's three meetings finished with 7, 5 and 4. - What happened: 7 total goals, half a goal under. Stone's empty-netter at 17:27 of the 3rd was the seventh, and nothing came after it. - Worth watching: Empty-netters swing alt unders late, so the extra goal of cushion matters.

Jack Eichel 1+ points: CASHED - Our read: 90 points in 74 games last season (1.22 a game) on the top line and PP1, against a Chicago team that allowed 3.29 goals a game. - What happened: 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points. The first came 10:30 into the game with the primary assist on Olofsson's power-play goal. He played 18:00 with 3:53 on the power play. - Worth watching: Top line plus PP1 is the role that carries this prop. Price is the only question.

Spencer Knight over 22.5 saves (alt): CASHED - Our read: He averaged 26.0 saves a start last season, Chicago allowed 30 shots a game, and Vegas took 29. - What happened: 32 saves on 36 shots, 9.5 over the line. Vegas put 37 shots on goal, one of them into the empty net. - Worth watching: Shot volume against Chicago is the angle for Knight saves props.

ALT: Over 4.5 total goals (alt): CASHED - Our read: Vegas (.884) and Chicago (.896) were both below-average save-percentage teams last season, and the total moved toward the over after it opened. - What happened: 7 total goals. Hanifin's goal at 4:43 of the 3rd was the fifth and cashed it. - Worth watching: Both goalies are worth tracking before playing game-total overs here.

Mark Stone 1+ points: CASHED - Our read: 73 points in 60 games last season, playing on the top line and PP1 with Eichel. - What happened: One slap shot, one goal: the empty-netter at 17:27 of the 3rd, set up by Eichel and Ivan Barbashev. He played 17:11 with 3:36 on the power play. This one came late. - Worth watching: His PP1 minutes keep him in play, but this cashed on an empty-netter.

Patrick Kane over 1.5 shots on goal: CASHED - Our read: He averaged 2.52 shots a game with Detroit and plays Chicago's top line and PP1 with Bedard out. - What happened: 4 shots on goal, 2.5 over, including his unassisted goal at 4:04 of the 3rd. He logged 21:36, with 3:03 on the power play. - Worth watching: Top-line minutes and PP1 time are what this shot prop rides on while Bedard is out.

Golden Knights over 2.5 team total goals: CASHED - Our read: Vegas scored 3.22 a game and Chicago allowed 3.29. The -258 moneyline and 5.5 total pointed to about 3.5 Vegas goals. - What happened: Vegas scored 5. Eichel's goal at 15:12 of the 2nd was the third and cleared the line. - Worth watching: Vegas put up 37 shots, so the volume backed this number at home.

Jack Eichel 1+ assists (-110 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: 63 assists last season and an assist in 57% of his games, with Vegas a -258 home favorite and Chicago without Bedard. - What happened: A longer shot that landed twice over: 2 assists, on Olofsson's power-play goal in the 1st and Stone's empty-netter in the 3rd. - Worth watching: Two assists in 18:00 of ice time. A price near even money is the draw.

How the game played out

Vegas controlled the game on the shot clock, 37-26, and scored once on three power plays while Chicago went without a power-play goal. Every time Chicago cut it to one, Vegas scored next. Hanifin's goal 39 seconds after Kane's was the swing of the 3rd.

Trends to watch

• Knight's workload: 36 shots against, well above the 22.5 saves line.
• Eichel on the power play: 3:53 of power-play time and a point on the Vegas power-play goal.
• Kane's usage: 21:36 of ice time and 3:03 on the power play with Bedard out.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. More at /nhl and NHL recaps, plus how we think about implied probability.