Hey guys, did you hear? Game 5 is a must-win for the Vegas Golden Knights! No, it's not because they're down in the series, 3-1. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Vegas tied the series with a thrilling Shea Theodore overtime winner on Monday.
Suddenly, the Golden Knights have new life and a "golden" (no pun intended) opportunity to take control of the series against the Utah Mammoth. Fans are hoping that the Golden Knights can pull off a series-shifting victory at T-Mobile Arena, where Vegas can move closer to the second round.
Of course, some key players must be involved to make this happen. You'd LOVE to see Tomas Hertl score a goal in Game 5 and shake his playoff demons. Pavel Dorofeyev did this in Game 4 and almost had another (thanks, Jack Eichel).
So, let's go over the notes for a pivotal Game 5 and see what went down. Who's ready to roll for the Golden Knights against the Utah Mammoth? What should fans expect (and not expect) as Vegas prepares for season-defining game against a spritely, young Mammoth team?
Noah Hanifin looks dialed in and ready to go
Noah Hanifin has had a terrific series against the Utah Mammoth. The Boston native has four assists and five blocked shots in four games, turning into one of the most important Golden Knights on the ice.
Once again, he'll be a critical component for the Golden Knights in Game 5. Vegas needs its blue liners to contribute offensively, as seen by Shea Theodore's game-winning goal on Monday. If Hanifin can chip in with a goal, that will go a long way in swinging the series in Vegas's favor.
Jack Eichel is working to redeem himself after the offside call
Fans gave Jack Eichel plenty of flack for going offside in overtime on Monday. The Golden Knights gigastar made up for it with an assist on Theodore's game-winning goal, capping off a three-assist night in the 5-4 win.
Eichel can go one step further and take over Game 5 with a goal or two. He has a goal and five assists during this series and moved around fluidly. The gold medalist also had a hard shot and did well in setting up rebounds for his teammates. Watch for him to potentially carry the team in Wednesday's affair.
Adin Hill shouldn't start in net for the Golden Knights despite looking strong
Look, I know that some people were calling for Adin Hill to take over the net in Game 5 after Carter Hart's poor performance. The Stanley Cup-winning goaltender also had a strong practice where he took away space and had quicker movements.
Still, the Golden Knights would be wise to stick with Hart. The former Flyers netminder was in a hostile environment in the past couple of games, giving him an excuse for not playing up to snuff. But it's still on him to have a strong Game 5 or risk putting the team on the brink of elimination.
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