SAN JOSE SHARKS VS. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Sharks: 46-27-9, 101 points, second in Central
Golden Knights: 43-32-7, 93 points, third in
Central
Season series: SJS 2-2-0; VGK 2-1-1
THE SKINNY
The Vegas Golden Knights have been in the NHL for two
seasons, but they already have a rivalry brewing with the San Jose Sharks.
The Golden Knights defeated the Sharks in six games in the
Western Conference Second Round last season, outscoring them 22-14, on their
way to the Stanley Cup Final.
Each team has since bolstered its roster. Vegas added
forwards Max
Pacioretty, Paul Stastny and Mark Stone. San Jose added
defenseman Erik Karlsson and
forward Gustav
Nyquist.
The keys for Vegas will include avoiding San Jose's power
play and keeping Karlsson and defenseman Brent Burns from
showing their Norris Trophy skills.
The keys for San Jose will include avoiding turnovers
against Vegas' transition game. The games between these teams have tended to be
lopsided Vegas wins or tight defeats. In the series last year, the Golden
Knights won 7-0, lost 4-3 in double overtime, won 4-3 in OT, lost 4-0, won 5-3
and won 3-0. This season, they won 6-0, lost 3-2, won 7-3 and lost 4-3 in OT.
GAME BREAKERS
Sharks: Karlsson was acquired in a trade with
the Ottawa Senators on Sept. 13 to be a difference-maker. The last time he
appeared in the playoffs was 2017, when the Senators went to the Eastern
Conference Final and he led them in scoring with 18 points (two goals, 16
assists) in 19 games.
Golden Knights: Center William
Karlsson has 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 16 games
against San Jose with Vegas, including eight points (three goals, five assists)
in the second round last year.
GOALTENDING
Sharks: Martin Jones' save
percentage in the regular season was .896, second-to-last among goalies who
played at least 46 games (Jonathan Quick, .888). In three games against Vegas,
he had a 3.62 goals-against average and .893 save percentage. In the playoffs
against Vegas, he had a 3.13 GAA, an .895 save percentage and one
shutout.
Golden Knights: Marc-Andre
Fleury had a .913 save percentage in the regular season. In two
games against San Jose, he had a 1.54 GAA, .950 save percentage and one
shutout. In the playoffs against San Jose, he had a 2.14 GAA, .935 save
percentage and two shutouts.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Sharks: The Sharks were tied for third with the
Calgary Flames in goals per game (3.52) and sixth on the power play (23.6
percent) in the regular season. They have nine players who had at least 50
points, four more than any other team.
Golden Knights: The Golden Knights were tied for
13th with the Montreal Canadiens in goals per game (3.00). But after acquiring
Stone from the Senators on Feb. 25, they averaged 3.32 per game (sixth).
INJURY REPORT
Sharks: Karlsson returned for the regular-season
finale Saturday after missing 27 of the previous 32 games with groin injuries.
Forward Timo Meier sat
out the finale with an undisclosed injury, but coach Peter DeBoer said the
Sharks were being cautious and Meier would be ready for the playoffs.
Defenseman Radim Simek is
out for the series with a knee injury.
Golden Knights: Fleury started the last two
regular-season games after missing nine with an undisclosed injury.
Forward Erik Haula is
skating on his own but hasn't played since injuring his knee Nov. 6.
WILL WIN IF …
Sharks: Jones gives them decent goaltending,
they're clean through the neutral zone, and they diffuse the Golden Knights' forecheck
and break out of their zone efficiently. Their strength is their offensive
punch in Burns and Karlsson on the back end and the depth up front.
Golden Knights: Fleury continues to give them an
advantage in goal, they force the Sharks into mistakes by attacking in
transition and dominating on the forecheck, and they stay out of the penalty
box. That not only avoids the potent Sharks power play but allows them to roll
four lines. They're at their best when they come in waves.
SHARKS PROJECTED LINEUP
Timo Meier -- Logan Couture --
Joe Pavelski
Evander Kane -- Tomas Hertl -- Gustav
Nyquist
Marcus
Sorensen -- Joe Thornton -- Kevin Labanc
Michael Haley -- Barclay
Goodrow -- Melker Karlsson
Marc-Edouard
Vlasic -- Brent Burns
Brenden
Dillon -- Erik Karlsson
Joakim Ryan -- Justin Braun
Martin Jones
Aaron Dell
Scratched: Joonas
Donskoi, Tim Heed, Lukas Radil
GOLDEN KNIGHTS PROJECTED LINEUP
Jonathan Marchessault -- William Karlsson -- Reilly Smith
Max Pacioretty -- Paul Stastny -- Mark Stone
Ryan
Carpenter -- Cody Eakin -- Alex Tuch
William
Carrier -- Pierre-Edouard
Bellemare -- Ryan Reaves
Nate Schmidt -- Brayden
McNabb
Nick Holden -- Shea Theodore
Colin Miller -- Deryk
Engelland
Marc-Andre Fleury
Malcolm
Subban
Scratched: Jon Merrill, Tomas Nosek, Brandon Pirri, Valentin
Zykov
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