Morning Skate Report: May 19, 2023
Golden Knights begin Western Conference Final against Stars
By
Caylee Allard
VegasGoldenKnights.com
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: ESPN, ESPN+
Radio: FOX Sports Las Vegas 98.9/1340 | Deportes Vegas 1460
TRAFFIC UPDATE
The Nevada Department of Transportation's I-15 Tropicana Project will have a major impact on many fans' travel to games at T-Mobile Arena. Road, ramp and lane closures will change throughout the two-and-a-half year project. The Vegas Golden Knights encourage fans to arrive early and stay late for games, but with some closures fans' typical routes to the arena will not be available. Please visit vgk.io/i15Tropfor more information. Fans can also use traffic mobile apps like Waze which will be updated with road and ramp closures.
FAN ACTIVATIONS
On Toshiba Plaza, Golden Knights fans can await puck drop in a carnival-like atmosphere including a live DJ, food, and drinks starting at 1 p.m. PT on Friday. Local tattoo artist Joey Hamilton from Revolt Tattoos will return outside T-Mobile Arena before Game 1 and Game 2 offering free permanent or temporary tattoos of the team's logo. Chapel of the Flowers, a local wedding venue, will be providing vow renewal and wedding ceremonies free for fans on Friday and Sunday. All legally binding marriages require a license through the Clark County Marriage License Bureau.
Before Game 2 on Sunday, May 21, the #VegasSuperBall will be on Toshiba Plaza in celebration of Super Bowl LVIII. Fans are invited to take a photo with the large football attraction that will make numerous appearances across Southern Nevada throughout the year. Complimentary hair styling, beard dyes and trims from 101 Barbershop will also be outside before the game on Sunday morning.
Fans without game tickets are invited to stay on Toshiba Plaza and watch the game live on the screen at the Allegiant Stage.
Inside T-Mobile Arena, battle towels will be placed on individual seats for every home game during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Those with a ticket to the game are encouraged to download the Stadium FX mobile application on their iPhone or Android device to become part of the team's immersive experience during the pregame show.
In between the first two games of the series against Dallas, the Golden Knights will host fans at City National Arena for "Chance's Pizza Party" during the team's practice on Saturday, May 20 at 11:30 a.m. PT. Fans are invited to watch practice live on Saturday as part of the viewing event that will begin at 11 a.m. PT and include free pizza for kids, an inflatable hockey rink outside City National Arena, and a creative station inside to make custom posters. Two pairs of tickets to Game 2 on Sunday will be given away during Saturday's practice. Open practices at City National Arena are presented by Station Casinos.
Official playoff merchandise is available for purchase now at The Arsenal at City National Arena.
SERIES PREVIEW
The Golden Knights finished the regular season as Pacific Division Champions and atop the Western Conference with a 51-22-9 record and 111 points. The Stars finished in third place in the Central Division with a 47-21-14 record and 108 points. The last time Vegas and Dallas met in the postseason was in the 2020 Western Conference Final. The Stars won the series, 4-1. The Golden Knights went 0-1-2 against the Stars during the regular season and are 8-3-3 against Dallas all-time.
HOW VEGAS GOT HERE
The Golden Knights defeated the Winnipeg Jets in five games in Round 1. After losing Game 1, Vegas won four straight to clinch the series. Mark Stone led the team with 8 points (3G, 5A). Goaltender Laurent Brossoit shined with a 2.42 GAA and a .915 save percentage.
The Golden Knights took down the Edmonton Oilers in six games in Round 2. After a back-and-forth series that went 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, then 3-2, Vegas was able to get it done in six in enemy territory. Eichel was Vegas' points leader with 9 (3G, 6A). After Brossoit suffered an injury in the first period of Game 3, Adin Hill stepped in and finished out the series with a 2.19 GAA and a .934 save percentage.
HOW DALLAS GOT HERE
The Stars beat the Minnesota Wild in six games in Round 1. Roope Hintz led the club with 12 points (5G, 7A). Goaltender Oettinger had a 2.01 GAA and a .929 save percentage throughout the series.
The Stars went on to defeat the Seattle Kraken in seven games in Round 2. Joe Pavelski led the way with 9 points (8G, 1A). Oettinger was pulled twice in the series and finished with a 3.50 GAA and a .878 save percentage.
SEASON SERIES
On Jan. 16, the Stars handed Vegas their first and only shutout of the season - a 4-0 loss at T-Mobile Arena. Jamie Benn opened the scoring for Dallas in the first period. The Stars then scored three more unanswered goals from Joel Kiviranta in the second and Ryan Suter and Tyler Seguin in the third period. Jake Oettinger stopped all 27 shots he faced.
The Golden Knights fell 3-2 to the Stars in a shootout on Feb. 25 at T-Mobile Arena. After a scoreless first period, Michael Amadio put Vegas on the board in the middle frame. Wyatt Johnston then tied things up 1-1 two minutes later. In the third period, Jack Eichel put the Golden Knights ahead, 2-1. Then, with less than one minute remaining in the third, Hintz tied the game for Dallas at 2-2 to send it to overtime. Hintz went on to score the shootout winner for the Stars. Oettinger stopped 41 of 43 shots faced.
The final meeting between both teams was on April 8 at American Airlines Center when Vegas was defeated 2-1 in another shootout loss. Brett Howden scored fourteen minutes into the first period, putting the Golden Knights up 1-0. Kiviranta then tied the game for Dallas thirteen minutes into the second. After a scoreless third period and overtime, Hintz scored the only goal in the shootout, securing the 2-1 win for the Stars. Oettinger saved 19 out of 20 shots faced.
AROUND THE NHLWestern Conference Final
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Dallas Stars (Series tied, 0-0)
Eastern Conference Final
Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes (Florida leads, 1-0)
KEYS TO THE GAME
Power play: If Vegas wants to penetrate Dallas' solid penalty kill (83.3 percent), the power play must be firing on all cylinders and will require improvement as it is currently at 17.5%.
Depth: With each opponent comes a new challenge, and Dallas has a lot of depth in their lineup much like the Golden Knights. It's key to continue the production from more than just one line, which is a big reason why Vegas had success against the Oilers.
