The Vegas Golden Knights entered Game 4 of their second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks with a heavy heart and a missing captain—and it showed on the scoreboard. Without Mark Stone in the lineup, the Knights fell 4-3 on Sunday night at the Honda Center, evening the series at 2-2 and turning the clash into a best-of-three affair.
Carter Hart, normally a reliable presence between the pipes, had an uncharacteristically rough night. He allowed four goals, with at least three that he'd likely want back on a night when Vegas needed him to steal the show. The absence of their captain loomed large, and the Knights simply couldn't find the extra gear to overcome both the Ducks and their own struggles.
"I think the biggest part of the game was not being able to get out of the second period 2-2," said Knights head coach John Tortorella. "It gave them some life and then they scored their fourth goal and that was the turning point."
The bad news broke earlier in the day when Tortorella confirmed Stone would miss Game 4 due to a lower-body injury sustained in the first period of Game 3 on Friday. In his place, veteran winger Brandon Saad stepped into the lineup for the first time since April 11 against Colorado, slotting onto the third line with Tomas Hertl and Keegan Kolesar—two players who have struggled offensively this postseason. Pavel Dorofeyev took Stone's spot on the top line alongside Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev.
"Stoney's a big part of our team," Tortorella said. "We miss him as far as his presence and what he does."
The numbers tell a stark story: With Stone in the lineup this season, Vegas went 31-17-12. Without him, they dropped to 8-10-5. His impact was felt across all situations—5-on-5 and special teams alike—and the Knights clearly lacked his leadership and two-way ability on the ice.
"It's always tough losing your captain," forward Colton Sissons said. "We're all going to have to step up. That's what good teams do. But we've got a lot of good leaders."
Whether Stone will return for Game 5 on Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena—or for the remainder of the series—remains uncertain. Tortorella has been tight-lipped about injuries, so fans will have to watch the pregame skate for any sign of their captain. With the series now a best-of-three and two of the next three games in Las Vegas, the Knights have a golden opportunity to regain control. But they'll need to find a way to win without their leader—or hope he's back in time to turn the tide.