Stone answers all questions for Golden Knights in Western 1st Round

LAS VEGAS -- Mark Stone started the Stanley Cup Playoffs as a question mark for the Vegas Golden Knights.

Five games later, the forward is an exclamation point.
The biggest question at the start of the Western Conference First Round against the Winnipeg Jets was, what would Stone provide in his first games back after being sidelined since Jan. 12 because of back surgery?
After
a 4-1 victory
in Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena closed out the best-of-7 series Thursday, the question became, what can't Stone do?
"His game] sure picked up in a hurry in Game 2 and then you start to see his hands, his brain and his feet are all working together as they do now," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. "And now you are seeing special plays. That is what he does, and it gets everybody going."
***[RELATED: [Complete Golden Knights vs. Jets series coverage]*
Stone was minus-3 in a desultory 5-1 loss in Game 1, and there were concerns that he was not playoff ready after a three-month layoff.
But the Golden Knights captain proved the naysayers wrong, much like he has throughout a NHL career that started with him being a sixth-round pick (No. 178) by the Ottawa Senators in the 2010 NHL Draft.
He finished the series with three goals, including the game-winner in the series-clincher, and five assists in five games.
"I think I was a little nervous going into Game 1," Stone said. "I just wanted to be healthy. Jumping into the Stanley Cup Playoffs isn't easy for anyone. I'm happy where my body is, but, most importantly, I'm happy with where this team is right now."

Where the Golden Knights are right now is moving onto the second round, where they will play either the Edmonton Oilers or the Los Angeles Kings. The Oilers hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series heading into Game 6 on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; TBS, CBC, SN, TVAS, BSW).
Stone's contributions in Game 5 started before the puck even dropped, stepping up in the dressing room right after Game 4 to address the struggles Vegas has had in closing out series, a speech Cassidy said was integral in settling down the players for the task at hand.
Then, Stone went out onto the ice and led the way from the first shift to the last, playing the responsible two-way hockey that has made him invaluable during a 12-season career that started with the Senators before being shipped to the Golden Knights in a Trade Deadline blockbuster in 2019.
"He leads in terms of example and the way he plays out there," defenseman Zach Whitecloud said. "Obviously some leaders are vocal, and some leaders lead by the way they play, and 'Stoney' does both. He says the right things at the right times.
"I will play for Mark Stone any day of the week. He does the right things at the right time, and he does the right things all the time. That is leading by example."
On his first shift, Stone made a nifty pass to Chandler Stephenson for the game-opening goal 50 seconds into the game, setting the tone for perhaps the most dominant performance by the Golden Knights this season.
He topped that in the second period, scoring a highlight-reel goal from the slot 42 seconds in for a two-goal lead. He gathered a popped-up puck, dropped it into his feet, contorted his body to get onto the forehand and snapped a shot inside the post.
"That was just reactionary there; I wasn't intending on any of that, but I was happy to get that goal there," Stone said. "We got an early goal in the first, an early goal in the second. We have been on the other side of those games, and you know how draining that can be."

Stone has five playoff goals inside the first minute of a period since joining the Golden Knights four years ago. No other player has more than one.
He set up Stephenson for his second goal on a power play at 8:57 of the second, a bang-bang-bang play that saw the puck go from the stick of Jack Eichel to Stone, to Stephenson and into the back of the net for a 4-0 lead that put paid to the series.
With three points (one goal, two assists) Thursday, Stone has 12 multipoint games in the playoffs with Vegas, tied with Shea Theodore for second-most in franchise history behind Reilly Smith (13).
Game 5 was a tour de force for Stone, who says he is energized at this time of year.
It certainly showed Thursday.
"He scores goals, he makes plays, he lifts the team and gives us energy," Cassidy said. "He kills penalties, he plays on the power play.
"I think he exudes that passion for the game that I think spreads to the rest of the guys when he is on. That is what we missed when he was out. We held our own, but it is sure nice to have him back."