It is a big one for the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the WCF.
After dropping Game 1 to the Dallas Stars on Sunday, the Vegas Golden Knights will not want to dig themselves a deeper hole tonight.
They have to be a lot better against a Stars team that looks dangerous, and Game 2 could be huge in determining the eventual outcome of this series.
The Skinny
The Golden Knights were shutout in a 1-0 loss in Game 1 in what was a tough night in more ways than one.
Vegas only generated 25 shots on goal and it was a quiet night for Stars goalie Anton Khudobin, while John Klingberg scored the only goal of the game and the game-winner.
It was the second time in three games that the Golden Knights have laid a goose egg, and their offense is slumping at the worst possible time.
There is no doubt either that the Stars are a juggernaut and they are a loaded team with good goaltending, while their forechecking will be a problem for the Knights as was the case in Game 1.
And, while this looks set to be a long series, there is no downplaying the importance of tonight’s game.
If the Stars win they take a vital 2-0 series lead and put themselves in a great position, while the Golden Knights would make it a series if they can get some revenge in Game 2.
Betting Odds
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You can bet on a wide-range of props and outcomes, and we suggest you stick with ACTION Network for all your betting needs for tonight’s game.
Streaming
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Projected Lineups
Golden Knights Head Coach Peter DeBoer shocked everyone by starting Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final.
However, expect DeBoer to revert back to type tonight by going with Robin Lehner in what is a must-win Game 2.
Ryan Reaves will also be back in the lineup after being suspended for Game 1 in what will be a huge boost for Vegas, and Nick Cousins is expected to be a healthy scratch as a result.
Here’s the Vegas Golden Knights Projected Lineup for Game 2, per nhl.com…
Max Pacioretty – William Karlsson – Mark Stone
Jonathan Marchessault – Paul Stastny – Reilly Smith
Chandler Stephenson – Nicolas Roy – Alex Tuch
William Carrier – Tomas Nosek – Ryan Reaves
Robin Lehner
Marc-Andre Fleury
Anton Khudobin will get the start again for the Stars after pitching a shutout in Game 1, with Ben Bishop still rated as “Unfit To Play.”
This is the Dallas Stars Projected Lineup for Game 2, per nhl.com…
Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Alexander Radulov
Mattias Janmark – Joe Pavelski – Denis Gurianov
Joel Kiviranta – Roope Hintz – Corey Perry
Jason Dickinson – Radek Faksa – Blake Comeau
Esa Lindell – John Klingberg
Jamie Oleksiak – Miro Heiskanen
Anton Khudobin
Jake Oettinger
Team Leaders
Vegas Golden Knights Postseason Leaders
Shea Theodore: 16 points (6 G, 10 A)
Mark Stone: 15 points (6 G, 9 A)
Reilly Smith: 13 points (4 G, 9 A)
Alex Tuch: 10 points (8 G, 2 A)
Jonathan Marchessault: 9 points (3 G, 6 A)
Dallas Stars Postseason Leaders
Miro Heiskanen: 21 points (5 G, 16 A)
Denis Gurianov: 15 points (8 G, 7 A)
Jamie Benn: 14 points (5 G, 9 A)
John Klingberg: 13 points (3 G, 10 A)
Joe Pavelski: 12 points (8 G, 4 A)
Postseason Stats
Power Play: VGK: 18.8% (10th) – DAL: 27.3% (5th)
Penalty Kill: VGK: 88.2% (5th) – DAL: 83.3% (9th)
Faceoff: VGK: 43.5% (23rd) – DAL: 50.3% (11th)
GF/GP: VGK: 3.06 (7th) – DAL: 3.18 (6th)
GA/GP: VGK: 2.25 (2nd) – DAL: 3.29 (17th)
Prediction
Another low scoring game but Robin Lehner will do his job and the Golden Knights will get just enough offense to even this series.
Game Info
Puck Drop: 5:00 p.m. PT
Venue: Rogers Place, Edmonton
TV: NBCSN
Radio: FOX Sports 98.9/1340