5 things to watch for in Game 3 of Blackhawks-Golden Knights, including non-calls on ‘freebee’ hits, the Drake Caggiula factor and third-period problems

A day later, on Friday, rallying to tie the Las Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 only to lose 4-3 in overtime still stung for the Chicago Blackhawks.

“I think we want to park the whole losing in overtime thing,” Blackhawks defenseman Slater Koekkoek said, “but I hope we bring a lot of what we did in the game to Game 3. I liked our first two periods, thought we were on our toes, playing well, we dropped off a little bit.”

The Hawks are down 2-0 in the best-of-seven first-round series and they’re searching for answers.

They showed vast improvement in Game 2, but some of the same challenges are there: slowing down the Golden Knights’ forwards proves a challenge, creating more offense themselves remains an issue and matching Vegas’ physical play hasn’t been easy.

Here are five things to watch for in Game 3.

1. Will the referees keep a closer eye on interference and questionable checks?

Every coach in every game probably can point to a non-call or two, especially in the playoffs. But a couple of Game 2 plays that the officials let ride stood out.

Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad took an elbow from Golden Knights forward William Carrier that left him sprawled on the ice. Referees stopped play but no call was made. An argument can be made that the hit was accidental as Saad was making a play for the puck.

Less refutable is a play that involved Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews.

During a faceoff between Toews and Golden Knights forward Tomas Nosek in the first period, Golden Knights enforcer Ryan Reaves skated in and plowed his shoulder into Toews’ head.

“We saw it, we didn’t like it,” Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. “We let the referees know we didn’t like it.

“I don’t think that’s a hockey play. We’re going to start taking freebees at centermen who are tied up at the dot when the puck wasn’t there? The puck was gone. … I think they know how we feel about it.”

2. Will Drake Caggiula continue to play on the Patrick Kane and Kirby Dach line?

In Game 2, Blackhawks forward Drake Caggiula was on the ice for teammate Kirby Dach’s rebound goal, which he helped produce by screening. “I was able to get in front of the net and park my butt there and create opportunities for the other guys,” Caggiula said.

However, he also was on the ice with that line for Golden Knight center Paul Stastny’s first-period goal.

Because of the dirty work Caggiula does, he bears a longer look playing alongside Kane.

“I try to play a complimentary role, try and create space for them and get to the puck as much as I can and cause havoc in front of the net,” Caggiula said. “I know exactly what my role is when I play with those guys.”

“He’s a versatile player,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “He can do different things for you. He can play with good players because he gets on the forecheck, puts pressure on the puck and forces turnovers.”

Colliton also likes his energy, scoring ability and work on the penalty kill. “He’s a nice guy to have in your lineup to move around.”

Asked about Caggiula, Vegas coach Pete DeBoer said it was more about Kane playing at a different level.

“I’m sure Caggiula was a piece of that but for me their best players found another level last night and Kane led the way there,” DeBoer said. “He was dangerous all night.

“When great players are like that, the guys they’re playing with usually look pretty good.”

Dach likely would agree.

“There are certain moments where you can see that fire in his eyes, maybe he gets a point early, makes a great play early, and you can tell there’s extra juice in his game,” he said.

3. Adam Boqvist may return to the lineup Saturday.

Blackhawks defenseman Adam Boqvist got a rest in Game 2 and a chance to take a step back and learn from his play.

“He’s a young player,” Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. “It’s a high level, we’re asking a lot of him.”

Colliton said his offensive skills from the blue line give them a different wrinkle. “He’ll have the opportunity to come back. We’ll figure out the lineup tomorrow.”

4. The Hawks have got to do something about the third period.

The Hawks have been outscored 6-3 in the third period this postseason. That’s not a good place to be against a Vegas team that has dominated all comers 10-1 in the final frame of regulation.

“I was talking earlier today to another guy on the team,” Hawks defenseman Slater Koekkoek said Friday, “they force you to be so disciplined throughout first two periods.

“I thought we were good last night, playing our game. Then it makes you want to get out of your structure to try to create offense, and that’s where they get you. Once you start cheating on the wrong side or try to create offense, that’s when they capitalize on you.”

Coach Jeremy Colliton said it from the outset of the series: The Golden Knights are simply a good third-period team.

“They’re a big team, they protect the puck well in the offensive zone,” he said. “They try to play the territorial game. It’s a challenge for us.

“I thought the first two periods, Games 1 and 2, we did a really good job, and we’ve got to find a way to do it for 3.”

5. The Hawks will try to give the Alex Tuch line a taste of its own medicine.

Golden Knights forward Alex Tuch’s line with Nicolas Roy and Nick Cousins set up center Paul Stastny’s line for the game-winning goal, and that group consistently has been putting the next shift in great position.

“They’re doing to us what we want to do them,” Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton said.

“We had some shifts where we were able to hem them in and change in the offensive zone and not allow them to change. They did it to us on the overtime goal. The perfect example, I think the Tuch line’s out there and they find a way to advance it and keep it deep, don’t let us change.

“And then the Stasny line comes out and they’re playing against tired guys. We had a few opportunities to advance the puck, get it out (of the defensive end), get it in (the offensive zone) and get fresh guys out. We didn’t do it. And that’s the game.”

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