Tonight the Vegas Golden Knights begin what they hope is the primary of many video games in a protracted and arduous journey because the reigning, defending, and undisputed hockey (heavyweight) champions of the world. In a means it appears becoming that their first-round matchup on the Western Convention facet of the bracket is towards the crew they confronted final within the 2023 match.
If the Golden Knights wish to preserve the dream alive, they’ll should be a crew that completed with one of the best file within the Western Convention, and a squad being picked by many to knock the Golden Knights en path to taking their crown altogether.
Vegas final squared off towards the Dallas Stars within the playoffs on Might 29, 2023, and punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Remaining with a decisive 6-0 victory to win the collection 4-2. It was an thrilling collection with shut video games, and two very gifted squads. As talked about a little bit earlier, the Stars completed this season atop the Western Convention, and in a means the roles are reversed with Vegas ending because the second Wild Card who limped into the playoffs. That mentioned, the Golden Knights, regardless of their common season file, are getting into the playoffs wholesome and have critical depth that ought to give the Stars some suits. With that mentioned, allow us to get into the collection preview.
REGULAR SEASON RECAPS
TALE OF THE TAPE
The 2 sides met 3 times within the common season, and the Golden Knights went 3-0-0 whereas outscoring Dallas 11-4, however the final assembly got here all the way in which again on December 9, 2023. Each squads have modified in that point, however it’s one thing that definitely could also be considered heading into Sport 1.
The one factor that stands out is that defensively the Stars weren’t as sturdy as final season, and a few of that’s as a result of Jake Oettinger wasn’t nearly as good as he was final season. To compensate for that, the offense was very impactful, and so they did an awesome job controlling the play at 5v5. Dallas additionally was very sturdy on particular groups, and their depth allowed them to deploy many harmful choices which made their energy play fairly scary.
Vegas’ season numbers aren’t all that spectacular on particular groups, and a few of that has to do with accidents. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how their lineup performs at full energy, as a result of they’ll probably find yourself icing gamers on secondary models that will be on major models on different groups within the league.
PLAYERS OF NOTE
Dallas Stars
- Jason Robertson: completed common season as crew chief in factors (29-51-80 in 82 video games performed)
- Roope Hintz: 19-30-49 in 63 profession playoff video games, Tenth-most prolific playoff scorer in Stars historical past
- Jamie Benn: 23-39-62 in 83 profession playoff video games, Seventh-most prolific playoff scorer in Stars historical past
- Joe Pavelski: 73-66-139 in 182 profession playoff video games, completed 2nd in crew scoring in common season at age 39 (27-40-67 in 82 video games performed)
- Wyatt Johnston: led Stars in targets scored this season with 32 in his 2nd NHL season
Vegas Golden Knights
- Jonathan Marchessault: set career-high in targets this season with 43, 34-37-71 in 88 playoff video games with Golden Knights, most prolific playoff scorer in crew historical past
- Jack Eichel: 31-37-68 in 63 video games performed, led Golden Knights with 26 factors in 22 playoffs in 2022-23
- Mark Stone: 29-32-61 in 68 playoff video games with Golden Knights, 2nd-most prolific playoff scorer in crew historical past
- Tomas Hertl: 24-18-42 in 62 playoff video games, 2-2-4 in 6 video games with Golden Knights in common season
- Noah Hanifin: 59.06 xGF% | 53.61 GF% | 55.71 CF% in 19 video games performed with Vegas, 2 targets and 10 assists
- William Karlsson: 30 targets and 30 assists in 70 video games performed, 28-35-63 in 88 playoff video games with Vegas
- Shea Theodore: 5 targets and 37 assists in 47 video games performed, 13-47-60 in 87 playoff video games with Vegas
DEPTH CHARTS
Dallas Stars
Jason Robertson – Roope Hintz – Joe Pavelski
Mason Marchment – Matt Duchene – Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn – Wyatt Johnson – Logan Stankoven
Sam Metal – Radek Faksa – Evgenii Dadonov
Thomas Harley – Miro Heiskanen
Esa Lindell – Chris Tanev
Ryan Suter – Nils Lundkvist
Jake Oettinger
Scott Wedgewood
Vegas Golden Knights
Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Jonathan Marchessault
Chandler Stephenson – Tomas Hertl – Mark Stone
Brett Howden – William Karlsson – Anthony Mantha
William Service – Nicolas Roy – Keegan Kolesar
Noah Hanifin – Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore
Nic Hague – Zach White Cloud
Logan Thompson
Adin Hill
Goalie Matchup
Dallas Stars
Jake Oettinger
- 0.49 Targets Saved Above Common | 1.46 Targets Saved Above Anticipated |6.8 GAR
- 35-14-4 | .905 SV% | 2.72 GAA
Vegas Golden Knights
Logan Thompson
- 7.03 Targets Saved Above Common | 6.85 Targets Saved Above Anticipated
- 25-14-5 | .908 SV% | 2.70 GAA
Sequence Schedule As Of In the present day
