The Vegas Golden Knights will be icing 11 forwards and seven defensemen instead of the usual 12 forwards and six defensemen.
The Golden Knights will be playing their first game in Utah after they defeated Utah HC 4-3 in overtime just two weeks ago. The rematch won’t feature Mark Stone as it did last time but will feature a new wrinkle that HC Bruce Cassidy is trying.
Kaedan Korczak and Ben Hutton have been rotating in and out of the lineup while Nicolas Hague has been out but tonight will be the first time this season where they will both dress. The Golden Knights will run seven defensemen and possibly give Korczak shifts at forward.
Bruce confirmed that they will go 11-7. Korczak might even play forward Bruce said. #VegasBorn
— Paul Delos Santos of Las Vegas (@PaulDelos_) November 15, 2024
One advantage that playing 11 forwards can give a team is that the most skilled players are forced to play extra minutes. Jack Eichel, Ivan Barbashev and Tomas Herlt will likely be double-shifted at times and play on different lines due to the unevenness of the forward group.
Related: Golden Knights Defenseman Placed On Injured Reserve
Utah enters tonight’s game coming off of an emotional win at home against the Carolina Hurricanes. They won 4-1 in a game where they gave the Hurricanes six power plays and faced 50 shots. Karel Vejmelka stopped 49 shots and will be the starter tonight against the Golden Knights.
Golden Knights projected lineup:
Barbashev-Eichel-Dorofeyev
Hertl-Roy-Kolesar
Howden-Karlsson-Holtz
Pearson-Schwindt
Hanifin-Pietrangelo
McNabb-Theodore
Hutton-Whitecloud
Korczak (took rushes in fourth line)
Hill
Samsonov
Line Rushes from #VegasBorn Skate:
Barbashev-Eichel-Dorofeyev
Hertl-Roy-Kolesar
Howden-Karlsson-Holtz
Pearson-SchwindtHanifin-Pietrangelo
McNabb-Theodore
Whitecloud-Hutton
Korczak (took rushes in fourth line)— Paul Delos Santos of Las Vegas (@PaulDelos_) November 15, 2024
Utah’s projected lineup:
Keller-Bjugstad-Schmaltz
Kerfoot-Hayton-Crouse
Maccelli-Cooley-Guenther
McBain-Stenlund-Carcone
Sergachev-Maatta
Cole-Lamoureux
Valimaki-Kesselring
Vejmelka
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