Here at Last Word On Hockey, our writers strive to provide the latest information on the Stanley Cup Playoffs through the final game. The Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche will do battle at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time tonight in Colorado to kick off the Western Conference Finals. We will discuss lineup news, starting goalies, and everything you will need to know before puck drop. Also, feel free to check out our series preview and Game 1 predictions.
Credit Image: © Alex Cave/ZUMA Press Wire
Vegas Golden Knights vs Colorado Avalanche Game 1 Lineups
Both teams have had a good amount of rest following their respective second-round series. However, it is expected that many players will not be at 100%. Most notably, Cale Makar will not play Game 1 and is listed as day-to-day, according to Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar. Other players who missed practice over the last week, including Josh Manson, Brent Burns, Artturi Lehkonen, and Sam Malinski, are expected to play. As for Vegas, things remain more uncertain. “There’s no update on injuries right now,” Vegas coach John Tortorella said. “I know he was on the ice. You saw that. But there’s no update.” Mark Stone has not played in the last three games, but he reportedly skated with the scratches on Wednesday’s skate.
As for goaltending, Carter Hart (8-4, 2.37 goals-against average, .917 save percentage) and Scott Wedgewood (7-1, 2.21 goals-against average, .914 save percentage) are expected to start Game 1.
The projected lineups are as follows. Lineups have not officially been confirmed yet, so please check social media for the most updated information before locking in your daily fantasy lineups.
Golden Knights Lines
Barbashev – Eichel – Dorofeyev
Howden – Karlsson – Marner
Saad – Hertl – Sissons
Smith – Dowd – Kolesar
McNabb – Theodore
Hanifin – Andersson
Hutton – Coghlan
Hart
Notable scratches: Stone, Lauzon, Korczak
Avalanche Lines
Landeskog – MacKinnon – Necas
Lehkonen – Nelson – Roy
Colton – Kadri – Nichushkin
Kelly – Drury – O’Connor
Toews – Malinski
Burns – Manson
Kulak – Ahcan
Wedgewood
Notable scratches: Makar, Kiviranta, Blankenburg
Main Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
