Phil Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 (1P) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (2C) Dallas Stars REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Golden Knights: 51-22-9, 111 points Stars: 47-21-14, 108 points SEASON SERIES: VGK 0-1-2; DAL 3-0-0 GAME BREAKERS: Golden Knights: Jack Eichel, in his eighth NHL season, appears to be getting comfortable in his first go round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 26-year-old center leads the Golden Knights with 14 points and is tied for the team lead with six goals (Chandler Stephenson). Eichel had a huge series against the Oilers with nine points (three goals, six assists) that all came in Vegas' four wins. The Golden Knights are 7-0 when Eichel gets on the scoresheet and 1-3 when he gets doesn't in the playoffs. Stars: At 38, Joe Pavelski is still getting it done for the Stars. The forward enters the conference final on a goal a game pace with eight in eight, including three game-winners, tied for the most in the playoffs with Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe. Pavelski also has two assists for 10 points. He's a heart and soul leader for the Stars and one of the most impactful scorers. This is also Pavelski's fourth time facing the Golden Knights in the playoffs (2018 and 2019 with the San Jose Sharks, 2020 with the Stars). His teams are 2-1 and he has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 19 postseason games against them. GOALTENDING: Golden Knights: It looks like it's going to be Adin Hill's series and there's no doubt the 27-year-old has earned it. Hill was forced into action in the first period of Game 3 against Edmonton because Laurent Brossoit sustained a lower-body injury. It was the beginning of the best and most impactful goaltending we have seen from Hill in his six-year NHL career. He allowed four goals on 33 shots in a 4-1 loss in Game 4, his first start in more than two months. Hill rebounded to become arguably the biggest reason why Vegas won the series in six games. He made 32 saves in a 4-3 win in Game 5, and 38 straight after giving up goals on the first two shots he faced in Game 6, a 4-2 win. Hill is 3-1 with a 2.19 goals-against average and .934 save percentage this postseason after going 16-7-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .915 save percentage in 27 games (25 starts) in the regular season. Jonathan Quick is expected to continue serving as Hill's backup with Brossoit and Logan Thompson (undisclosed) injured. Stars: Jake Oettinger had a tough series against the Kraken in the second round, but when the Stars needed their 24-year-old goalie to step up in Game 7, he did so in a big way. Oettinger made 22 saves on 23 shots in a 2-1 win. Although he was pulled twice in the series and gave up four or more goals in three games, Oettinger also stepped up big with the Stars down 2-1 in the first round against the Wild. He helped them win three games in a row to take the series in six games by allowing only three goals on 85 shots, including a 27-save shutout in Game 5. Oettinger is 8-5 with a 2.75 GAA and .903 save percentage in 13 games in the playoffs. Backup Scott Wedgewood has allowed three goals on 18 shots in two relief appearances in the playoffs. X FACTORS: Golden Knights: Forward William Karlsson is coming off a series in which he had to go against Connor McDavid whenever Vegas could get the matchups it wanted. By the end of the series, the Oilers were taking McDavid off the ice when Karlsson was sent on for a face-off. No offense to anybody on the Stars, but they don't have a Connor McDavid, although Karlsson will again get the toughest matchup, particularly at home, and it's a role he relishes. Look for him and linemates Reilly Smith and Nicolas Roy to match up against the Stars top line of Pavelski, Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson. Karlsson, who can put the puck in the net, is arguably their most important forward considering the role he plays defensively. Stars: Hintz leads the Stars and is second in the playoffs with 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists). But scoring is only one of the ways he impacts games. Hintz is a possession driver, with Dallas taking 56.6 percent of the shot attempts at 5-on-5 with Hintz on the ice. He helps that by winning face-offs (60.0 percent, 54-of-90). Hintz is playing 18:26 per game, second among Stars forwards behind Robertson (18:47). He plays on the top power-play unit (3:16 per game), and gets limited time on the penalty kill (38 seconds per game). He touches all areas of the game and will have to continue to do so against the Golden Knights. WILL WIN IF: Golden Knights: They stick to the formula that got them here, which is to stay out of the penalty box as much as possible and control play at 5-on-5. Their special teams have not been all that special this postseason, but they have been the better team at 5-on-5 in each of their series so far. Staying that way gives them the best chance, especially if they can get solid goaltending. Stars: Forecheck, forecheck, forecheck. The Stars have to know that when the Golden Knights struggled against the Oilers it was because of Edmonton's forecheck. Vegas struggled to get the puck out of its defensive zone, turned it over and committed penalties. The more aggressive the Stars are on the forecheck, the better their chances of forcing the Golden Knights out of its plan to try to make it a 5-on-5 series. Oettinger has to be a difference-maker too. He's the best goalie in the series. MORE: https://www.nhl.com/news/2023-stanley-cup-playoffs-vegas-golden-knights-vs-dallas-stars-western-final-preview/c-344425032?tid=344391338 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 The "Oettinger" factor looms large here in this series. Stars in 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 Let's Go Stars! Dallas! Stars! (In 6) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted May 18, 2023 Share Posted May 18, 2023 Dallas in six games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morphinity 2.0 Posted May 18, 2023 Share Posted May 18, 2023 Gotta go with the better goaltender, even though he was bad last series. Stars in 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted May 19, 2023 Share Posted May 19, 2023 There are no former Rangers on VGK or Dallas. Correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY Chief Posted May 19, 2023 Share Posted May 19, 2023 Fuck the Golden Showers and all Vegas stands for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieNextel305 Posted May 19, 2023 Share Posted May 19, 2023 (edited) 7 hours ago, Abe Froman said: There are no former Rangers on VGK or Dallas. Correct? Marchessault was in the organization for a tiny bit. I believe he was in Connecticut for a season (a good one) in 2011-12. I remember him playing in Traverse City back in 2011, the same year Tim Erixon and Hagelin played on the team for it. Edited May 19, 2023 by RichieNextel305 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted May 19, 2023 Share Posted May 19, 2023 4 hours ago, RichieNextel305 said: Marchessault was in the organization for a tiny bit. I believe he was in Connecticut for a season (a good one) in 2011-12. I remember him playing in Traverse City back in 2011, the same year Tim Erixon and Hagelin played on the team for it. Wow, I completely forgot about that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted May 19, 2023 Share Posted May 19, 2023 12 hours ago, Abe Froman said: There are no former Rangers on VGK or Dallas. Correct? Brett Howden is on Vegas. Nils Lundkvist is on Dallas. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY Chief Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 (edited) I HATE the whole Vegas “pomp and circumstance” pre game intro shit. Lame. and jackals Slewban wearing one of those leather Starter jackets that kids killed each other for? Shit head Edited May 20, 2023 by NY Chief Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasRanger Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 48 minutes ago, NY Chief said: I HATE the whole Vegas “pomp and circumstance” pre game intro shit. Lame. and jackals Slewban wearing one of those leather Starter jackets that kids killed each other for? Shit head He may have killed a kid for his. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasRanger Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 Can they stop talking about that Griner dude? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 I hate ESPN. Such a garbage network. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasRanger Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 Kind of a boring game. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 (edited) Shit. Edited May 20, 2023 by Abe Froman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasRanger Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 How the fuck is that a good goal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fletch Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 That third Vegas goal is the kind of playoff goal you need, and the Rangers don’t have a player on the roster that would make that kind of drive to the net. really impressive hockey from all of the final four teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 6 minutes ago, VegasRanger said: How the fuck is that a good goal? Because they're Bettmans butt buddies. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasRanger Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 10 minutes ago, Abe Froman said: Because they're Bettmans butt buddies. There was one in last nights game that wasn't nearly as bad they called no goal on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 5 minutes ago, VegasRanger said: There was one in last nights game that wasn't nearly as bad they called no goal on. Bettman has to keep selling his fairy tale expansion team championship storyline. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasRanger Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 Another OT game. Hopefully it won't go 4 OT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fletch Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 3 minutes ago, VegasRanger said: Another OT game. Hopefully it won't go 4 OT this. 100 percent, just about to post same thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasRanger Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 Well, that sucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fletch Posted May 20, 2023 Share Posted May 20, 2023 The dream of howden vs fast and skjei in scf that you didn’t know existed lives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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