Golden Knights Playoff Gameday Preview: WCF Game 3 vs. Avalanche

Welcome to another Vegas Golden Knights’ Playoff Gameday Preview! After two wins on the road, the Golden Knights are just two wins away from the Stanley Cup Final. They have an opportunity on home ice in Game 3 to put the Colorado Avalanche on the brink of elimination. Let’s jump into the preview and storylines for an important Game 3.

Game 2 Recap

In Game 2, the Golden Knights trailed 1-0 in the third period before the offense woke up. Jack Eichel tied the game at 9:15 of the third period. Eichel then picked up the primary assist on Ivan Barbashev‘s game-winning goal just under two minutes later. Barbashev added another goal into an empty net, sealing the win for Vegas and sending them home up 2-0.

Game 3 Projected Lineup (Subject to Change)

• Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Pavel Dorofeyev
• Brett Howden – William Karlsson – Mitch Marner
• Brandon Saad – Tomas Hertl – Colton Sissons
• Cole Smith – Nic Dowd – Keegan Kolesar
  
• Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore
• Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson
• Kaedan Korczak – Dylan Coghlan
  
• Carter Hart/Adin Hill

Brayden McNabb left Game 2 in the first period after a skate caught his leg following a check. After missing the second period, he returned in the third, suggesting the injury was minor. He is expected to remain in the Game 3 lineup but could still be evaluated before puck drop. Mark Stone’s status for Game 3 is still uncertain. He has been skating with the team and appears to be making progress toward a return, but no specific timeline has been given.

Team Leaders

Mitch Marner continues to lead the team in points (19) and plus/minus (plus-13). Pavel Dorofeyev leads with 10 goals. Eichel leads with 16 assists. Lastly, among the skaters, McNabb continues to lead with 19 penalty minutes.

In goal, Carter Hart is posting a 2.25 goals-against average (GAA) alongside a .924 save percentage in 14 games.

Storyline #1- Top Line Outperforming Top Line

The Golden Knights have held the Avalanche’s top line (Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Necas) to just one goal in the first two games of the series. Aside from Landeskog’s Game 1 goal, the only other goals scored by the Avalanche in the series have been by the bottom-six lines. The Golden Knights have taken a defensive approach to this series, and the results speak for themselves. They have clogged the middle to disrupt the Avalanche’s transition game and have been consistently blocking shots.

The Golden Knights’ top line has been a major factor in the series, responsible for all goals in Game 2, with Eichel involved in two. Though Dorofeyev and Brett Howden were quieter in Game 2 after scoring in Game 1, Barbashev stepped up with two key goals. Vegas’s top six have five goals compared to Colorado’s one.

For Game 3, Vegas should maintain this approach: keep producing from the top six and limit the Avs’ top-six chances.

Storyline #2- Golden Knights’ Resilience

The Golden Knights have demonstrated their resilience throughout the playoffs. In Round 1, they fell behind 2-1 to the Utah Mammoth before winning three straight games to win the series. In Round 2, they lost McNabb to suspension in Game 6, but still convincingly beat the Anaheim Ducks to win the series.

The resilience showed up again in Game 2. Prior to Game 2, the Avalanche were 4-0 in the playoffs when leading after the second period. In the regular season, they were 41-0. The Golden Knights were not phased, ending the Avs’ streak and putting them in a 0-2 hole.

The Golden Knights repeatedly show they have what it takes to win the Stanley Cup, consistently overcoming adversity in each series. The Avalanche will seek to shift momentum in Game 3, especially if Cale Makar returns. Vegas must remain prepared for any challenge.

Storyline #3- A History Lesson

Sorry, kids. It may be a summer vacation, but we do have a history lesson for you.

History is on the Golden Knights’ side. Since 1982, teams that go up 2-0 on the road in the conference finals are 13-0. The odds are certainly in Vegas’ favor, but it also means the trailing team is due for a comeback.

If the Golden Knights continue to play their game, they will be in a strong position to win the series. Heading into the series, just a split in Colorado would have been a major victory. Now, the team is headed home up 2-0 with a chance to put the Presidents’ Trophy winners on the ropes.

How to Watch

Game 3 starts at 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time. It can be viewed on ESPN.

Be sure to check back with The Hockey Writers for more coverage of both the Western and Eastern Conference Final!