Stone has been out since February 20th but is ready for game 1 of the playoffs (yet again). Stone will skate on the second line with Tomas Hertl, who was acquired at the trade deadline with the cap space that Vegas saved while Stone was on LTIR. Prior to getting injured, Stone had 53 points (16G / 37A) in 54 games.
Samsonov had a rocky start to the season but finished the season well, going 9-2-2 with a .905 SV% in his final 13 games. During last year's postseason, Samsonov was 4-4 with a 3.13 GAA and .898 SV%. With Joseph Woll not playing particularly well since returning from injury (.890 SV% in 10 games), the Maple Leafs need to be able to rely on Samsonov in Round 1.
Hutton will get a chance to play in Vegas' regular season finale on Thursday as Noah Hanifin will get the night off to rest. Hutton has two goals and eight assists in 40 games this season.
Hanifin will sit out the Golden Knights' regular season finale on Thursday as he'll get the night off to rest ahead of the team's playoff run. Ben Hutton will draw into the lineup in his place.
The Golden Knights will turn to Hill between the pipes for their final game of the season on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks. Hill has struggled lately but was good enough to record a victory in his last outing, saving 21 of 24 shots (.875 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
Pearson was a healthy scratch for the Canadiens' previous two games but will draw back in for their final game of the season on Tuesday vs. Detroit. He replaces Jesse Ylonen and will look to build off a very down season, with his five goals, 13 points, 77 SOG, 21 PIMs and a -11 plus/minus through 53 games played.
Alec Martinez will replace Hutton in the lineup on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Hutton has 10 points (2G / 8A), 67 shots, and 52 hits in 40 games this season.
Rondbjerg has played 18 games with the Golden Knights this season, scoring three points (1G / 2A) in 18 games, but has spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL. He has 25 points (9G / 16A) in 48 games with the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL).
Olofsson has been a healthy scratch for the previous four games but will draw back into the lineup on Monday vs. Tampa Bay as he takes the spot of Lukas Rousek. The 28-year-old has struggled all season, leading to his least productive season since joining the NHL in 2018-19, with seven goals, eight assists, 66 SOG and four PIMs in 50 games played.
Alec Martinez will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Hutton to re-enter the lineup. The 30-year-old Hutton has 10 points (2G / 8A) and 50 blocks in 38 games this season.
Paul Cotter will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Roy to re-enter the lineup. The 27-year-old Roy has 38 points (11G / 27A) in 66 games this season.
Stone has been on Long-Term Injured Reserve since February 20th and has returned to practice in a non-contact capacity on Friday. The 31-year-old was having an excellent season before his injury, with 16 goals, 53 points, 117 SOG, and 22 SOG through 56 GP.
Vegas locked up another key piece to its core long-term as it signed 27-year-old defenseman Noah Hanifian to an eight-year, $58.8 million ($7,350,000 AAV) contract extension. Hanifin has excelled since joining the Golden Knights at the trade deadline, with two goals, nine points, 37 SOG and a +7 plus/minus through 16 games played.
The Maple Leafs have won three straight and will return to Samsonov between the pipes on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils after giving him the night off in their previous contest. Samsonov has been stellar lately, allowing two or fewer goals in three of his last four (4-0-0), including saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-2 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Maple Leafs enter action as -197 home favourites.
The Maple Leafs have won three straight and will likely return to Samsonov between the pipes on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils after giving him the night off in their previous contest. Samsonov has been stellar lately, allowing two or fewer goals in three of his last four (4-0-0), including saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-2 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Maple Leafs enter action as -197 home favourites.
The Golden Knights have lost two straight but will welcome Hill back to the crease after a multi-week absence due to a lower-body injury. Before his injury, Hill had been inconsistent, allowing three or more goals in seven of his last eight (3-5-0), but was solid in his most recent outing, saving 12 of 13 shots (.923 SV%) before exiting the contest, an eventual 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Golden Knights enter action as slight -105 road underdogs.
Schmid was recalled from the Utica Comets (AHL) on Tuesday as a result of Kaapo Kahkonen battling a lower-body injury. The 23-year-old Schmid has split time between the AHL and NHL this season but has struggled at both levels, posting a 3.15 GAA and .895 SV% in 19 games with the Devils (5-9-1).
