Preview: Golden Knights vs Stars – 3rd Round – Game 5

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Tonight, the Vegas Golden Knights will try to avoid elimination against the Dallas Stars. VGK was yet again victim of a another brilliant game on Saturday evening by Stars’ goalie Anton Khudobin.

 

 

It may be surprising that the Stars have such a decisive lead over the Golden Knights. Before the NHL forced stoppage, Dallas was scuffling and didn’t seem like a viable contender. But since the NHL came back, they have turned it up a few notches, and VGK looks to be another victim of that turn-up.

But Golden Knights’ coach Peter DeBoer isn’t surprised at all.

“When you looked at Dallas during the season, you kind of scratched your head why they weren’t creating offense with the personnel they had,” Peter DeBoer said before the start of the series. “It didn’t make a lot of sense. The fact they’ve put that piece together here since we’ve come back, that’s not a surprise to me. They’ve got a lot of skill both on the back end and upfront. Real good power play; They’re firing on all cylinders. It’s going to be a great test.”

To keep it simple for a novice hockey fan: the Golden Knights need to play with more urgency. They need to get out to an early lead and pile on the Stars. It sounds convenient and straightforward to say, but the reality is the Golden Knights have had inconsistent goalie play this series, really since the Vancouver series by both Robin Lehner and Marc-Andre Fleury.

Let me explain what I mean. If they don’t shut out the opposition, the Golden Knights lose. That’s been the pattern with Lehner. Fleury still may be the most athletic goaltender in the NHL, but he also gives up too many “cheap goals,” and VGK can’t afford to do that. DeBoer knows his team and knows what the vibe is in the locker room. Whomever he chooses to start has to play the game of their life. They cannot let Dallas steal this series.

 

The Golden Knights need to have their Stone(s).

 

Mark Stone hobbled after he blocked a shot from Joe Pavelski in the second period. Stone was able to return in the third period, but he appeared to be playing through some considerable pain. The 28-year-old can be considered questionable for today’s Game 5 at this point. Expect him to try to gut it out since the Golden Knights are on the verge of elimination in the Western Conference finals.

Stone is the heartbeat for VGK. He has 17 points (7 goals and ten assists) this postseason, but more importantly, he provides the ability to score in any given possession. If he were to miss Game 5, which I doubt, it would be an even more significant loss than when Ryan Reaves missed Game 1.

 

A final thought about Game 5 before they drop the puck.

 

If anything, Peter DeBoer knows that a series at 3-1 isn’t over until the other team says so. The Golden Knights are not out of it, but they need to play their asses off today. The Stars haven’t dominated this series, but they are in a commanding position. It’s the position many thought the Golden Knights would be in at this juncture. Sooner or later, VGK will convert shots on goal into goals, and for their sake, it better be tonight.

 

 

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Dallas Stars series and TV schedule:

 

Game 1 – Stars 1, VGK 0

Game 2 – VGK 3, Stars 0

Game 3- Stars 3, VGK 2 (OT)

Game 4 – Stars 2, VGK 1

Game 5 – Sept. 14 – 5 p.m.  (NBCSN)

*Game 6 – Sept. 16 – 5 p.m.  (NBCSN)

*Game 7 – Sept. 18 – 6 p.m.  (NBCSN)

*If necessary

 

 

The Golden Knights magic number to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup remains at 7!

 

GO KNIGHTS, GO!

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-Joe Arrigo – Franchise Sports Media

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