Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone, who has missed the previous five games due to a lower-body ailment, will play in Sunday night’s Game 3 of the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche.
Golden Knights coach John Tortorella announced the decision around 2 1/2 hours before puck drop, but did not go into detail.
Vegas leads the series 2-0 going into the game.
“His skill speaks for itself, but his character and leadership, just to have him back in the room, to hear his voice again, will be enormous for our team,” Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin stated. “Every time he returns, it’s as though he didn’t miss a beat. “
Stone, who was injured in Game 3 of the second-round series in Anaheim, exhibited little to no limitations while participating in an optional skate Saturday. He also skated while the team was in Denver for the first two games of the series.
During the regular season, he scored 28 goals and had 73 points, which were his greatest totals in seven years. This year, he added three goals and four assists in nine playoff games.
“No one wants to be out there more than Mark,” Hanifin said. “He’s one of the most competitive people I’ve played with in my career. “
Avalanche standout defenseman Cale Makar’s participation is less certain. Coach Jared Bednar refused to confirm earlier in the day if Makar, who has missed this series due to an upper-body issue, will play.
A 45-0-0 run comes to an end, and the Avalanche’s scoring touch disappears in Game 2.
The Presidents’ Trophy winner and Stanley Cup contender inexplicably cannot score.
The Colorado Avalanche lost a late lead in a shocking 3-1 Game 2 defeat to the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday night, who were without star Cale Makar for the second consecutive game. The Avalanche now trail the series 3-1 as it moves to Las Vegas, putting the Knights halfway to winning the Western Conference.
It was their first defeat in 46 games this season, with the team leading into the third quarter.
Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog commented, “It hurts for sure right now, but tomorrow we’ll wake up, have a meeting, fly to Vegas, and regroup. ” “That’s all you can do. “
For the majority of the night, it appeared that the Avs would tie the series after losing the first game 4-2. Goalie Scott Wedgewood was on his first career playoff shutout until giving up goals to Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev little more than two minutes apart. Barbashev scored an empty-net goal with just over a minute left.
“I believe every aspect of our game was superior other than maybe the power play,” Landeskog said. “And then they made two great shots, so yeah, I liked our game a lot. I don’t suppose there is much solace in stating that following a defeat. But at the end of the day, we will reconcile. “
The Avs understand that playing better in Game 2 provided little consolation to a fanbase that watched them cruise through the first two rounds with just one defeat while displaying a deep roster with an incredible 17 goal scorers.
Makar, on the other hand, was harmed in the previous series against Minnesota and has not played in this round. His absence has been noted throughout the board, with an unproductive power play, a disjointed attack, and chaotic defensive rotations in the absence of their standout defenseman, who is formally out due to an upper body ailment.
“At the end of the day,” Landeskog said, “we have to figure out how to score some goals. “
Colorado’s unexpected absence of goal production has resulted in the Avalanche’s first defeat of the season despite entering the third quarter in the lead. Before Friday night, they had a 45-0-0 record in similar situations.
And it’s endangering their Stanley Cup hopes.
Landeskog conceded that the Avalanche may have been disheartened by the Golden Knights’ consecutive penalty kills while Colorado was hanging to a 1-0 lead in the first half the third quarter.
“Yeah, perhaps,” Landeskog responded. “The power play has to improve. “
What is the most effective way to improve? Get Makar back, but only if he is capable of taking both strikes and shots.
Colorado coach Jared Bednar recoiled when questioned if there is extra pressure now to get Makar back in the lineup with the Avs down 2-0.
“There’s an urgency to get him back because he was injured,” Bednar added. “But it’s going to be Cale’s choice on when he returns, you know? He’s working as hard as he can to return as quickly as possible. … I don’t make that decision for him. “
With or without Makar, the Avalanche have their job cut out for them as they attempt to reclaim the series on the road.
“It’s on us now,” said forward Logan O’Connor. “We made it difficult. … We can’t contemplate winning two in Las Vegas. We must begin with one.
