BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: NBC
Radio: FOX Sports Las Vegas 98.9/1340 (pregame show at 4 p.m.)
LAST TIME OUT
Mattias Janmark recorded his first NHL hat trick as the Golden Knights knocked out the Wild with a 6-2 win in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round. Nicolas Hague, Max Pacioretty and Zach Whitecloud also scored for Vegas as it clinched a series on home ice for the first time in franchise history.
ROUND ONE RECAP
Game 1: Wild 1, Golden Knights 0 (OT)
Game 2: Golden Knights 3, Wild 1
Game 3: Golden Knights 5, Wild 2
Game 4: Golden Knights 4, Wild 0
Game 5: Wild 4, Golden Knights 2
Game 6: Wild 3, Golden Knights 0
Game 7: Golden Knights 6, Wild 2
PLAYOFF LEADERS
Mattias Janmark: Janmark leads the Golden Knights in playoff scoring with six points (3G, 3A) in seven games.
Mark Stone: Stone has posted five points (4G, 1A) in seven games.
Alex Tuch: Tuch has posted five points (3G, 2A) in the playoffs.
Chandler Stephenson: Stephenson leads Vegas with five assists in the postseason.
2020-21 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
In their eight regular season matchups, the Golden Knights and Avalanche each picked up four wins. Vegas outscored Colorado, 18-17, during the season series but was outshot, 242-226 through the eight games. The Golden Knights saw their power play click at 16.7 percent against the Avalanche while Colorado's man-advantage unit was successful just 4.8 percent of the time.
Max Pacioretty led all players in the head-to-head series with eight points (6G, 2A). Mark Stone was second on the Golden Knights in scoring against the Avalanche in the regular season with six points (1G, 5A). Nathan MacKinnon also had six points (2G, 4A) in those eight contests to lead Colorado against Vegas.
SCOUTING REPORT
After winning the President's Trophy on a tiebreaker in the regular season, the Avalanche drew a first-round series matchup with the St. Louis Blues. Colorado ran through the Blues in a four-game sweep but lost forward Nazem Kadri after he was suspended for a high hit.
Nathan MacKinnon exploded for nine points (6G, 3A) in four games against the Blues to lead Colorado. Gabriel Landeskog had eight points (2G, 6A) and Mikko Rantanen had seven points (1G, 6A) as the Avalanche advanced to the second round.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
Honda West Division
No. 1 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 2 Vegas Golden Knights (Series tied, 0-0)
Scotia North Division
No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 4 Montreal Canadiens (Series tied, 3-3)
No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Winnipeg Jets (Jets win, 4-0)
MassMutual East Division
No. 3 Boston Bruins vs. No. 4 New York Islanders (Bruins lead, 1-0)
Discover Central Division
No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning (Series tied, 0-0)
VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM SCRATCHES
Stay tuned to the Golden Knights on Twitter for updates on the lineup.
KEYS TO THE GAME PRESENTED BY TOYOTA
Set the Tone: Vegas will be looking for at least a sweep in the two games at Ball Arena in Colorado to start the series. A win in Game 1 would have the Golden Knights playing with house money in Game 2 and give them an opportunity to jump on the Avalanche early in the series.
Top Players: Pacioretty and Stone were the offensive leaders for Vegas during the regular season against Colorado. They will be looked to for offense all series long.
