Tip: Mark Stone back at the helm!

Injury report as of april 17

Golden Knights
Nolan Patrick (IR), Adin Hill (OUT), Will Carrier (OUT), Logan Thompson (DTD)

Jets
Cole Perfetti (IR), Nikolaj Ehlers (DTD), Kevin Stenlund (DTD)

The leader is back on the ice

After missing a significant portion of the season due to a back injury, Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone is back in action. He practiced with the team wearing a regular jersey on Saturday. Stone had been sidelined since January 12, but it appears he's ready to hit the ice again. Zach Whitecloud was also back on the ice for practice. Whitecloud sometimes flies under the radar in the shadow of Shea Theodore and Alex Pietrangelo, but he is defensively one of the Golden Knights' most important players. With both of these key players back, it only strengthens my belief that the Knights will make it past the Jets in the first round.

Am I giving the Jets too little credit?

In my assessment of both teams ahead of this series, I criticized the Jets' bottom six, and argued that they rely too much on Connor Hellebuyck in goal. With Mark Stone and now seemingly Zach Whitecloud back, it only strengthens my belief that the Jets are even more dependent on Hellebuyck. As I see it, Vegas wins the battle for best forward group as well as best defensemen. I can concede that the Jets have a good top six group of forwards who will certainly be able to threaten the Knights throughout the series, but when considering all twelve forwards, it must be concluded that the Knights have better depth. I also believe that, in combination with offensively skilled defensemen, they pose more offensive threats.

Many columnists have argued that the "key" to the game will be Laurent Brossoit vs. Connor Hellebuyck, something I think is exaggerated. Undoubtedly, the Jets have the advantage in the goaltending battle, but elsewhere Vegas is the overall better team. The Knights also have the ability to defend skillfully from all lines and are generally a much more dynamic team with more maneuvering room.

Conclusion and prediction

Now, I don't want to make it sound like the Jets can't disrupt Vegas at all, because they certainly have the ability to do so. The Jets have had an underestimated stamp on them for much of the season, and there is probably little doubt that they are a playoff-worthy team. My view is rather that the Golden Knights are given slightly too little credibility, and I don't think the key to their success rests solely on Mark Stone, even though he is of great importance. Instead, I believe that Vegas's success will be carried by their excellent depth in forwards as well as one of, if not, the best defensemen in the league.

I will be betting on the Vegas Golden Knights to win the first game against the Winnipeg Jets in regulation time at +120 on Bet365!