Golden Knights’ Mark Stone to return to lineup for Game 3

The Vegas Golden Knights are getting their captain back, as winger Mark Stone will be returning to the lineup on Sunday for Game 3 of the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche.

Stone had missed the final three games of the Golden Knights’ second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks, as well as the first two games of the West Final with a lower-body injury, sustaining the injury late in the first period of Game 3 against the Ducks. As the Ducks were moving the puck up the ice, Stone backchecked on Alex Killorn while he had the puck, and a collision between the two players resulted in Stone sustaining a lower-body injury.

Stone was missed in the lineup, as he had three goals and four assists for seven points in nine games. And of course, his elite defensive play was missed as well.

Stone is coming off of a career year in the regular season which saw him tie his career high of 28 goals and along with 45 assists, he set a new career high in points with 73 in 60 games. This season was his best both in terms of raw point totals and in points per game, and he ranked 12th in the league in the latter stat.

Stone will likely return to the lineup on the top line alongside Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev, although the lineup has not been confirmed for Game 3. The trio have spent 34:07 of ice time together in the playoffs, and have been outscored 4-3 with a 36.08% 5v5 score-adjusted expected goal share. They played together a lot more in the regular season with better results, as they outscored their competition 28-15 and had a 57.18% 5v5 score-adjusted xGF% in 364:54 of ice time.

The Golden Knights find themselves in an advantageous position in the West Final, as they have a 2-0 series lead after two wins in Colorado. They’ll host the Avalanche for Game 3 on Sunday at 5 p.m. PST.