Golden Knights Gameday 80: Pacific Clinch?: Lines and Starting Goalies vs Stars

The Vegas Golden Knights (42-29-8, 106 points) can clinch first place in the Pacific Division today with a win over the Dallas Stars (43-21-14, 100 points) and an Edmonton Oilers loss to the San Jose Sharks (that game at 1:00 p.m.). There are 16 games in the NHL today, so tons of implications for the upcoming playoffs. Even if you're not completely invested, today's a day where you keep the TV on hockey all day long with VGK at noon.

What to Watch For

Want it

For the Golden Knights, a win bolsters their chances of winning the Pacific Division. A division crown not only gives them home ice but practically confirms that they won't have to play either the Edmonton Oilers or Los Angeles Kings in the first round. That's a huge bonus.

Third Line Success

Out of nowhere, the line of Ivan Barbashev, Chandler Stephenson, and Phil Kessel was formed and had a tremendous game against the LA Kings Thursday, scoring three goals with each member getting a goal. The line consisting of Stanley Cup Champions will look to continue their success.

Feeling Fatigued

The Golden Knight's recent schedule has consisted of a lot of travel, and with just three games left, the team will need to get some rest before the playoffs. If they can clinch the division today with a strong game, perhaps we start to see some veteran players rested in the two remaining games.

Projected Golden Knights Line Combinations

Pavel Dorofeyev- Jack Eichel- Jonathan Marchessault

Michael Amadio- William Karlsson- Reilly Smith

Ivan Barbashev- Chandler Stephenson- Phil Kessel

Brett Howden- Teddy Blueger- Keegan Kolesar

Alec Martinez- Alex Pietrangelo

Ben Hutton- Nicolas Hague

Brayden McNabb- Zach Whitecloud

Jonathan Quick/Laurent Brossoit

Golden Knights Special Teams

PP1: Eichel, Dorofeyev, Stephenson, Roy, Pietrangelo

PP2: Barbashev, Smith, Karlsson, Marchessault, Hutton

PK1: Karlsson, Roy, McNabb, Pietrangelo

PK2: Blueger, Howden, Whitecloud, Martinez

IR/Scratches

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

Projected Stars Line Combinations

Jason Robertson- Tyler Seguin- Joe Pavelski

Jamie Benn- Wyatt Johnston- Evgenii Dadonov

Joel Kiviranta- Max Domi- Ty Dellandrea

Fredrik Olofsson- Radek Faksa- Luke Glendening

Ryan Suter- Miro Heiskanen

Esa Lindell- Jani Hakanpaa

Thomas Harley- Colin Miller

Jake Oettinger/Scott Wedgewood

Stars Special Teams

PP1- Pavelski, Benn, Robertson, Seguin, Heiskanen

PP2- Dadonov, Domi, Johnston, Miller, Suter

PK1- Faksa, Olofsson, Lindell, Miller

PK2- Glendenning, Dellandrea, Suter, Heiskanen

IR/Scratches

Mason Marchment, Roope Hintz/Nils Lundkvist, Joel Hanley

How to Watch/Listen

12:30 p.m. on AT&T Sportsnet, ESPN+ and Fox Sports 98.9 FM Radio.