Golden Knights vs. Stars Game 5 Preview: Vegas Switching Goalies

Word from the morning skate in Dallas is that Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy is shaking up the Golden Knights lines, defensive pairings and goalie as a remedy for their recent struggles.

Coach Bruce Cassidy said Adin Hill will start Game 5.

“He’s an experienced guy who has come into this situation before,” Cassidy said.

According to the Athletic’s Jesse Granger, Adin Hill was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, suggesting he will start. Logan Thompson started the first four games of the series, but Hill was the goalie last year when the Golden Knight won their first Stanley Cup.

The best-of-seven series is tied 2-2. The Golden Knights lost both of their recent home games and they have only scored eight five-on-five goals in the first four games of the series.

Granger is reporting Tomas Hertl is now playing with Jack Eichel and Justin Marchessault. Meanwhile, Mark Stone and Chandler Stephenson is playing with Pavel Dorofeyev.

“It’s about finding the right chemistry for Tomas,” Cassidy said.

William Karlsson was not at the morning ice, but he hasn’t been practicing because of an undisclosed injury. He has played all four games of the series. We can assume he will play Game 5.

The defensive shake-up includes Alex Pietrangelo now playing with Alec Martinez and Noah Hanifin now playing with Ben Hutton. Hanifin is minus-4 in the series, and minus-3 over the past two games. He also had no points in the two games in Vegas.

Massive shake up in the Golden Knights lines and d-pairings after 2 losses.

I believe Mantha is skating in place of Karlsson, who hasn’t skated outside of games while dealing with an injury, but should play.

Hertl—Eichel—Marchessault
Dorofeyev—Stephenson—Stone…

— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) May 1, 2024

Game Time

Monday: Vegas at Dallas, Game 5, Western Conference Quarterfinal, 4:30 PT

Where: American Airlines Center

TV/RADIO: ESPN (National) and Scripps Sports (Local)/98.9 FM/1340 AM and 1460 AM

Time: 6:30 p.m., PT

Vegas Preview

Defenseman Nicolas Hague didn’t Skate, meaning he’s not expected to play tonight… Jack Eichel continued to play like he did in last year’s Stanley Cup run. He has scored in three consecutive days, and put up at least one point in all four games.  Eichel boasts three goals and three assists for five points. He has 14 shots on goal in the past three games… Defenseman Brayden McNabb is plus-5 in the series.

Golden Knights lineup

Tomas Hertl — Jack Eichel — Jonathan Marchessault

Pavel Dorofeyev– Chandler Stephenson — Mark Stone

Brett Howden  –William Karlsson– Michael Amadio

William Carrier-Nicolas Roy — Ivan Barbashev

Defense

Alec Martinez — Alex Pietrangelo

Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore

Noah Hanifin-Ben Hutton

Dallas Preview

Joe Pavelski has no points, five shots in the first four games of this series. He was plus-2 in the last game…It doesn’t sound promising that defenseman Jani Hakanpaa will play in this series…The Stars are expected to use the same lineup in Game 5 that they used in Game 4. That means no Mason Marchment and Radek Faksa.

VGK@DAL Pregame: Pete DeBoer https://t.co/LCkpoy4Ywm

— Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) May 1, 2024