SAN JOSE -- When the Sharks play the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center on Wednesday night, they’ll see plenty of familiar faces.
Vegas didn’t reveal its Game 1 lineup in an optional skate Wednesday morning, but the Golden Knights will largely have the same team that eliminated San Jose in Game 6 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs a year ago. Well, with three notable exceptions.
Forwards Max Pacioretty and Paul Stastny, whom the Golden Knights acquired in the offseason, and Mark Stone, traded for just before the February deadline, give Vegas a formidable trio of forwards in addition to William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith.
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Just don’t call them a second line.
“When did you declare them the second line,” Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant rhetorically asked early Wednesday afternoon. “I’m joking, I’m joking. No, they’re all all new guys to our hockey team, and they’re all a big part of our group, and they’re all talented guys.
“They fit in real good with our team so far … and they’ve played really well together so far.”
In 13 regular-season games together down the stretch, the trio outscored opponents 9-6 at full strength, controlling 57.96 percent of the shot attempts and 59.7 percent of the high-danger chances, per Natural Stat Trick. The Golden Knights allowed shots and attempts at a lower rate when the line was out there, and generated chances at a higher clip.
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They arguably formed Vegas' top line. In fact, since Stone’s first game on Feb. 26, Stastny (15:17), Stone (14:23) and Pacioretty (13:47) actually lead the Golden Knights’ forwards in 5-on-5 ice time. Marchessault (13:38), Karlsson (13:27) and Smith (13:21) are fourth, fifth and tied for sixth, respectively.
But, the former trio played 54 fewer minutes than the latter in the Golden Knights’ final 19 games, and didn't play together at all in six of them, as Pacioretty and Stastny each missed a couple of games with injuries. Still, Pacioretty liked the line’s chemistry when they first played together after the trade deadline, and said they were at their best contributing in all three zones.
“We want to be a two-way line,” the winger said. “Those two, specifically -- Stoner’s so good with his stick. Stas is a very reliable centerman in both ends, so when we focus on the [defensive] side of things, it allows us to go on the offensive side. I think all three of us are able to contribute on the scoresheet, but when we take care of our end first, it allows us to go the other way, but also helps our team in the long run.”
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The Sharks only faced the Pacioretty-Stastny-Stone line once in two matchups down the stretch. In a 7-3 home loss to Vegas on March 18, Tomas Hertl and Marc-Edouard Vlasic played the most against the trio at full strength. But, it remains to be seen whether or not that will mean much.
If San Jose’s recent practices are any indication, Hertl will have one different linemate (Gustav Nyquist) and Vlasic will have a different defense partner (Brent Burns) than that night. Plus, the Sharks largely chased the game that night, leading for all of 3:07.
Still, winning the matchup will be critical no matter who the Sharks ice against Pacioretty, Stastny and Stone. Nobody has scored more against San Jose in the regular season and playoffs since the start of last season than Marchessault (21), Karlsson and Smith (18), so limiting a second wave of forwards behind them takes on extra importance for the Sharks.
“I see them boing our top players, and they seem to gel real well together,” Gallant said of the line.
Then, he smiled and paused for one last quip.
“First, second or third line -- I don’t care what they are.”