Morning Skate Report: April 18, 2019

The Vegas Golden Knights look to move on to the second round as they take on the San Jose Sharks at 7 p.m. Thursday at SAP Center. The Golden Knights lead the series, 3-1.
NOTES
Thursday's game is the fifth of the best-of-seven between Vegas and San Jose. The Golden Knights can win the series with a victory. A Sharks win would send the series back to Vegas for Game 6.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Joe Thornton return to the lineup for San Jose. Martin Jones will start in net per coach Peter DeBoer.
FAN FESTIVITIES
The Vegas Golden Knights will host a watch party for game five of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Henderson Pavilion (200 S. Green Valley Pkwy, Henderson NV 89012. The cost of admission and parking are free, and fans of all ages are invited to attend.
Those in attendance at the watch party will have the chance to win a variety of Vegas Golden Knights prizes. The first 500 people at the event will receive a battle towel. The event will also feature special appearances by Chance, the Golden Aces, Knight Line presented by playMGM, Knights Guard Presented by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and a Vegas Golden Knights in-arena host. Fans will have the chance to shop Golden Knights gear from retail trucks on-site, and food trucks will be stationed at the venue as well. The game will be shown on a new outdoor LED Jumbotron screen. Fans should note the outdoor venue will not be covered by a canopy during the event. Golden Knights fans can purchase food and beverages on-site, or they can pack a cooler with sealed food and drinks. No outside alcohol or glass containers are permitted.

LAST TIME OUT
Marc-Andre Fleury registered the 15th playoff shutout of his career to lead Vegas to a 5-0 win in Game 4. Max Pacioretty scored twice for Vegas while Shea Theodore, Alex Tuch and Jonathan Marchessault chipped in one goal each. The Golden Knights won both games on home ice so far during the series outscoring the Sharks, 11-3.
SERIES STANDOUTS
Mark Stone: Stone ranks first in the NHL in goals (6) and is tied for first with Pacioretty for points (10) through four playoff games.
Max Pacioretty: Pacioretty's four goals and six assists have him tied with Stone for the league lead in points thus far in the postseason.
Paul Stastny:Stastny rounds out Vegas' most productive line as he's compiled eight points (2G, 6A).
Erik Karlsson: Karlsson is the only Shark with five points so far in the series as he's notched five assists.
FROM THE ROOMS
Brayden McNabb:As a kid, all you want to do is play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It's all a process and hopefully it will result in a long run.
Gerard Gallant:3-1 is a good place to be in, but we want to finish it off. It's a four-win series and we're going to see their best game tonight.
Timo Meier:We're ready, we know the crowd is ready and the fans are going to be there for us cheering us on. It's up to us to show them our best hockey.
Peter DeBoer:When you're chasing the game early, you can get exposed. The stats show and we know from playing out front this year that it's a lot easier playing out front than coming from behind.
KEYS TO THE GAME
Don't Look Too Far Ahead:Vegas can advance with a win, but it will spell trouble if the Golden Knights start thinking too far in the future.
Do What You've Been Doing: The Golden Knights have solved Martin Jones. If they can get to him early, they'll have an easier path to a series win.