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Vegas Golden Knights: Four players who need to step up in Mark Stone’s absence

By Andrew Steele-Davis

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 26: Mikko Koskinen #19 of the Edmonton Oilers defends the net against Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 26, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 26: Mikko Koskinen #19 of the Edmonton Oilers defends the net against Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 26, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 03: William Karlsson #71 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a third-period goal, his 100th career NHL goal, against the New Jersey Devils during their game at T-Mobile Arena on March 3, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Devils 3-0. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 03: William Karlsson #71 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a third-period goal, his 100th career NHL goal, against the New Jersey Devils during their game at T-Mobile Arena on March 3, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Devils 3-0. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

2. William Karlsson

This has been an up-and-down year for William Karlsson who recently broke a 21-game drought without a goal.

He did it in style by recording a hat-trick against the Anaheim Ducks on Feb. 23, and the forward now has five goals and seven points in his last five outings.

Karlsson has 15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points on the year, fifth on the Golden Knights, with just seven points coming on the power play.

Granted, the 27-year-old has more than one string to his bow and he does boast a 51.7 win percentage in the faceoff circle to go along with 38 blocked shots, 37 hits and 53 takeaways.

However, in saying that, Karlsson will need to up his level of production down the stretch with Mark Stone out of the lineup.

Playing on a line with Max Pacioretty and Nicolas Roy, a second line that has meshed together well, Karlsson is starting to heat up and he’s timed it to perfection.

After all, we’ve witnessed Karlsson pile up monster numbers and if he can go on an absolute tear now, that should help to fill the void left by Stone.

And, after recording the 100th goal of his NHL career on Tuesday night, William Karlsson has the chance to really step up and create more history for the Vegas Golden Knights.

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