Golden Knights Face Avalanche Without Key Players Tonight

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The Vegas Golden Knights will take on the Colorado Avalanche tonight at Ball Arena, despite missing several key players due to injuries and illness. Center Jack Eichel, along with defensemen Nic Hague and Alex Pietrangelo, will be sidelined for the highly anticipated matchup.

Eichel is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury, whereas Hague and Pietrangelo are out due to illness. This absence is notable as the Golden Knights look to solidify their position in the Pacific Division.

“This one is huge. This is one you circle on your calendar,” said right wing Keegan Kolesar. “Two really good teams with the talent they have, the depth. It’s going to be exciting, for sure, tonight.” The Golden Knights (47-22-8) currently lead the Pacific Division by five points over the Los Angeles Kings and can increase their advantage with a win.

The Golden Knights will be relying on goaltender Akira Schmid, making his second start after debuting with 21 saves in a 3-2 overtime victory against the Calgary Flames. The team is hopeful to clinch home-ice advantage in the playoffs with a single point tonight.

On the other side, the Avalanche have been dealing with their own injury concerns, including forwards Martin Necas and Jonathan Drouin, who are both day-to-day. Defenseman Samuel Girard is also unavailable, missing his fourth straight game. The team has made significant changes to its lineup following trades in the past months, which included acquiring goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood.

“(The Avalanche) still play the same way. They just, no disrespect, have a few better players in their lineup,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy noted. “We know them well enough to know how their style of play is and how you’ve got to slow them down.”

Nathan MacKinnon is a pivotal player to watch for Colorado, currently tied for the NHL lead in points with 115. His ongoing performance, along with that of defenseman Cale Makar, who leads all defensemen in both goals and points, poses a serious challenge for Vegas’ depleted lineup.

The confirmed lineup for the Golden Knights includes: Ivan Barbashev, Brett Howden, and Mark Stone, along with Victor Olofsson, William Karlsson, and Reilly Smith. Colorado will counter with its line led by MacKinnon and surrounding forwards Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin.

The game begins at 9:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN and SN360. This matchup marks a crucial moment in both teams’ playoff quests, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for Vegas, aiming for their sixth straight road win.

As the playoffs approach, both squads are expected to bring their best to the ice, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter.