Fans and Vegas Golden Knights players celebrate after Vegas Golden Knights right wing Alex Tuch’s goal during the third period in Game 2 of a Stanley Cup playoff series against the Minnesota Wild at T-Mobile Arena Tuesday, May 18, 2021.
Friday, May 28, 2021 | 3 p.m.
The Golden Knights had two chances to eliminate the Wild this week after taking a 3-1 lead in the first round playoff series, but it comes down to Game 7 tonight. The winner gets the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Sunday. Loser goes home.
Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena.
“All I can look back at is convincing our group that they’ve done the heavy lifting and to just go out and play, that the preparation’s been done,” said coach Pete DeBoer, who is 5-0 all-time in Game 7 as a coach. “Go out and enjoy the moment because, I mean frankly, where else would you rather be?”
This is the third Game 7 in the Golden Knights’ four-year history. Vegas lost in 2019 in San Jose and last season defeated Vancouver in the Edmonton bubble.
“We know how to play when we’re playing good, so I don’t think anyone is feeling nervous. The only thing is being excited,” forward William Carrier said. “The crowd’s always good. I don’t think it can be more hyped up than before. I think we’ve played a lot of games in the playoffs and they’re great for us.”
The Golden Knights don’t expect to have Max Pacioretty, who has not played since May 1, or Tomas Nosek, who has not played since Game 2, but are hopeful about Brayden McNabb and Ryan Reaves. Both opened the day on the NHL’s “Players Unavailable Due to COVID Protocols” list, and neither played in Game 6 on Wednesday.
Reaves though took the ice for an optional morning skate, indicating he is off the list and available for tonight. McNabb’s status is less clear.
Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to start for the Golden Knights as he has every game this series. He has allowed 10 goals in six games with a .935 save percentage.
It’s also fitting that tonight, one of the most important games in T-Mobile Arena, comes on the three-year anniversary of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2018, arguably the biggest win Vegas has had in that building. The Golden Knights are looking give their fans another memorable victory.
Vegas is 1-2 at home in this series, but are 10-6 all-time at home in the playoffs.
“Hockey players, we’re here for a reason,” forward Jonathan Marchessault said. “For my part, it’s what I’m living for. It’s playoff hockey, Game 7, there’s no tomorrow, you know? It doesn’t matter what happens in the next day or two days or three days, we’re just focused on tonight and embracing the challenge.”
Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1
Series: Tied 3-3
TV: AT&T SportsNet (DirecTV 684, Cox 1313, CenturyLink 1760)
Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM
Betting line: Golden Knights minus-180, Wild plus-160; over/under: 5 (minus-130, plus-110)
Golden Knights (3-3, West Division No. 2 seed)
Coach: Pete DeBoer (second season)
Points leader: Mark Stone (5)
Goals leader: Mark Stone (4)
Assists leader: Nick Holden, Mattias Janmark, Chandler Stephenson (3)
Expected goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (1.66 GAA, .935 save percentage)
Wild (3-3, West Division No. 3 seed)
Coach: Dean Evason (second season)
Points leaders: Matt Dumba, Jordan Greenway, Jonas Brodin (3)
Goals leaders: Joel Eriksson Ek, Ryan Hartman (2)
Assists leaders: Jonas Brodin (3)
Expected goalie: Cam Talbot (2.01 GAA, .937 save percentage)
Golden Knights projected lineup
Forwards
Alex Tuch—Chandler Stephenson—Mark Stone
Jonathan Marchessault—William Karlsson—Reilly Smith
Mattias Janmark—Nicolas Roy—Keegan Kolesar
William Carrier—Patrick Brown—Ryan Reaves
Defensemen
Alec Martinez—Alex Pietrangelo
Nick Holden—Shea Theodore
Nicolas Hague—Zach Whitecloud
Goalies
Marc-Andre Fleury, Robin Lehner
