Golden Knights at Jets
The Vegas Golden Knights long since surpassed expectations in authoring the most successful inaugural season in NHL history, and now the expansion team tries to continue its stunning run through the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference finals. The Jets host Game 1 of the best-of-seven series Saturday night, two days after capping a riveting 4-3 series victory over Nashville, while Vegas has not played since finishing off San Jose in six games Sunday.
Vegas swept Los Angeles in the opening round and in 10 games has allowed more than three goals just twice, but figures to be pushed by Winnipeg’s high-powered offense that scored four goals or more five times against the Predators. “If we can defend well and get on the attack ourselves, we’ll be alright,” Vegas forward James Neal told reporters during a Friday press conference. “It’s that time of year. Everyone is batting for space out there. Goals aren’t easy to come by.” The Golden Knights will look to unleash their speed while relying on center William Karlsson - who has added four goals in the playoffs after scoring 43 during the regular season - and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, while the Jets counter with center Mark Scheifele - who has scored a NHL-high 11 goals in 12 postseason games and Vezina finalist Connor Hellebuyck. “We’re here to win a Stanley Cup,” Hellebuyck told reporters during a press conference Friday. “We haven’t achieved anything yet.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, TVA
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS: Karlsson’s linemates, forwards Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith, each have 11 points in 10 playoff games for a Vegas squad that finished the regular season with 109 points and won the Pacific Division title. Fleury, who played with Pittsburgh as they won the past two Stanley Cups, has posted a .951 save percentage and a 1.53 goals against average in going 8-2 with four shutouts. Another veteran presence to watch for Vegas is Neal, who owns seven points (three goals) this spring and has 90 games of postseason experience - the first 80 coming with Pittsburgh and Nashville.
ABOUT THE JETS: Winnipeg’s top line of Scheifele along with forwards Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor has been sensational in the playoffs, combining for 16 goals and 23 assists, while trade-deadline acquisition Paul Stastny scored twice in Game 7 against Nashville and boasts 14 points in the postseason. There is also more firepower that has been sporadic in the opening two rounds, including forwards Patrik Laine (44 regular-season goals, three in the playoffs) and Nikolaj Ehlers (29 in the regular season, zero in the postseason). Hellebuyck, playing in his first postseason, has two shutouts, a .927 save percentage and a 2.24 goals against average in winning eight of 12 starts.
OVERTIME
1. Vegas won the season series 2-1 and outscored the Jets 12-11 in the three games, while Winnipeg outshot the Golden Knights 95-89 and went 4-for-14 on the power play.
2. Fleury only made one start against Winnipeg due to injury, making 26 saves in a 3-2 road overtime victory on Feb. 1.
3. Jets D Dustin Byfuglien finished the Nashville series with four goals and four assists.