Golden Knights Gameday 75: Clinching Time?: Lines and Starting Goalies vs Sharks

The Vegas Golden Knights (46-22-6-98 points) can reach the 100-point mark tonight with a win over the San Jose Sharks (20-39-15, 55 points) and also clinch a playoff spot if certain scenarios occur. The VGK can clinch their fifth trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs if they win against the Sharks, see the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Nashville Predators in regulation, or if they get a point against the Sharks and the Predators/Penguins game goes to OT.

Shea Theodore, who left the team's last game against the Edmonton Oilers, will not be available and is now considered day-to-day. Either Ben Hutton or Brayden Pachal will replace him in the lineup. Laurent Brossoit is the confirmed starter.

What to Watch For

Get it Done

After last season, getting full confirmation of making the playoff is something the Golden Knights need. Regardless of the Penguins/Predators outcome, the VGK will be motivated to clinch a playoff spot so that they can move on to their next goal, winning the division and securing home-ice advantage.

The Golden Knights have a 20-2-4 all-time against the Sharks and should help their chances on getting Connor Bedard tonight.

Life Without Shea

The Golden Knights will be without one of their top defensemen, Shea Theodore, who has four points in his last five games. The Golden Knights have proven to be an elite team when they have a fully-health defensive corps but will have to adjust without one of their key pieces tonight against the Sharks.

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On the Sharks' defense, they possess the runaway favorite for the Norris Trophy, as Erik Karlsson has nearly 100 points this season. This year has been a bit of a career resurgence for the Swedish defenseman as he's 10th in the league in points, 21 spots ahead of the next D-man (Quinn Hughes).

All Eyes on G

After Jonathan Quick was pulled in the Golden Knight's spanking by the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, Laurent Brossoit will tend the goal Thursday. The Golden Knight's goaltending situation remains a fascinating one and the play of LB will be something to keep an eye on tonight as a result.

Projected Golden Knights Line Combinations

Ivan Barbashev- Jack Eichel- Jonathan Marchessault

Pavel Dorofeyev- William Karlsson- Michael Amadio

Chandler Stephenson- Nicolas Roy- Phil Kessel

Brett Howden- Teddy Blueger- Keegan Kolesar

Alec Martinez- Alex Pietrangelo

Brayden McNabb- Ben Hutton

Nicolas Hague- Zach Whitecloud

Laurent Brossoit/Jonathan Quick

Golden Knights Special Teams

PP1: Eichel, Roy, Stephenson, Barbashev, Pietrangelo

PP2: Marchessault, Karlsson, Dorofeyev, Kessel, Hutton

PK1: Karlsson, Blueger, McNabb, Pietrangelo

PK2: Stephenson, Howden, Whitecloud, Martinez

IR/Scratches

Nolan Patrick, Robin Lehner/Mark Stone (c), Will Carrier, Adin Hill, Reilly Smith, Logan Thompson, Shea Theodore/Paul Cotter, Brayden Pachal

Projected Sharks Line Combinations

Andrew Agozzino- Logan Couture (c)- Fabian Zetterlind

Jacob Peterson- Tomas Hertl- Martin Kaut

Noah Gregor- Nico Sturm- Kevin Labanc

Oskar Lindblom- Steven Lorentz- Jeffrey Viel

Marc-Edouard Vlasic- Erik Karlsson

Mario Ferraro- Matt Benning

Radim Simek- Jacob MacDonald

James Reimer/Kaapo Kahkonen

Sharks Special Teams

PP1- Hertl, Couture, Kaut, Karlsson, Agozzino

PP2- Peterson, Gregor, Zetterlund, Benning, MacDonald

PK1- Couture, Sturm, Vlasic, Ferraro

PK2- Lorentz, Lindblom, Simek, Benning

IR/Scratches

Markus Nutivaara, Luke Kunin, Jonah Gadjovich, Evgeny Svechnikov, Alexander Barabanov/ Andreas Johnsson, Henry Thrun

How to Watch/Listen

7:30 p.m. on AT&T Sportsnet, ESPN+ and Fox Sports 98.9 FM Radio.