Key matchup Bruins must win vs Golden Knights
By jc
Can the Bruins keep Mark Stone off the scoresheet? If they win this matchup, they’ll win the game.
The Boston Bruins travel to Las Vegas to take on the Golden Knights for the first time this season.
Boston defeated Vegas in both matchups last year. The Bruins took the first game 4-1 and won the second game 3-2 in a shootout.
The Golden Knights pose a bigger threat this year after the addition of Mark Stone. Stone joined the Knights last season at the trade deadline. He missed both games against Boston.
Stone, who Bruins fans remember from his time at Ottawa, adds another element to the Golden Knights. He’s one of the few two-way wingers in the NHL. He’s as competent in the defensive zone as he is in the offensive zone.
Stone finished as a minus player only twice in his NHL career. And the first time was his rookie year when he played only four games. Even last year in 59 games with Ottawa, Stone managed to be a +13. Ottawa as a team finished the season with a -59 goal differential.
That said, Stone really impacts a game offensively. He scored at least 20 goals every season since 2014-2015. He had 33 goals each of the last two seasons.
Stone, unlike most goal-scoring wingers, also puts up a lot of assists. In fact, he had at least 40 assists each of the last three seasons.
Given the different ways Stone affects a game, he needs to be Boston’s biggest concern Tuesday night.
Stone will likely suit up on Vegas’ second line with Cody Glass and Max Pacioretty. This means could see a healthy dose of Brandon Carlo and Torey Krug.
Carlo was great in the first two games in the role of a shutdown defender. He played tough matchups and rarely made a mistake. Carlo was especially effective on the penalty kill. No Bruins player had more time on the PK than Carlo.
Stone, however, plays the right side, so he’ll see more of the left defenseman. In this case, Krug could see a lot of action with Stone. Krug may not have the size, but he certainly can skate with Stone.
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy can choose to match up Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy with Stone. Chara has the reach to limit Stone’s space, and he can handle him physically.
No matter who’s on the ice, the Bruins must win the matchup against Stone to win the game against the Golden Knights.
Stone started the season on fire with four points in two games. Hopefully the Bruins defense can keep him off the scoresheet for the first time this season.