Golden Knights' Nicolas Roy: Hands out helper in Game 1 win
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Roy notched an assist and two shots on goal in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Wild in Game 1.
Roy set up a Brett Howden tally at 2:28 of the third period, which ended up being the game-winner. The 28-year-old Roy has earned four goals and two assists over 10 contests in April. He's a versatile forward, but with the Golden Knights at full health to start the playoffs, Roy will likely be confined to fourth-line duties and power-play time initially. He had 31 points, 107 shots on net, 72 hits, 47 blocked shots and a minus-4 rating over 71 regular-season appearances in a similar fireman role, moving up the lineup when necessary to cover for other absences.
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Golden Knights' Brandon Saad: Garners helper
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Saad logged an assist in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Wild in Game 1.
Saad rested for the regular-season finale but was back in a second-line role for the playoff opener. The 32-year-old winger has five points over nine outings in April. He'll be more of a support scorer for the Golden Knights during the postseason. He put up 30 points, 127 shots on net and a minus-8 rating between Vegas and St. Louis over 72 regular-season contests.
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Golden Knights' Alex Pietrangelo: Offers helper in Game 1 win
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Pietrangelo supplied an assist, two shots on goal and four blocked shots in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Wild in Game 1.
Pietrangelo missed eight of the Golden Knights' last 12 games during the regular season due to injuries and illness. The 35-year-old looks to be fine now, and that will allow him to fill a top-four role in the playoffs as long as he can stay healthy. The blueliner put up 33 points in 71 regular-season contests, in addition to 123 shots on net, 139 blocked shots and a plus-11 rating.
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Golden Knights' Noah Hanifin: Logs helper in win
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Hanifin managed an assist, two hits and two blocked shots in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Wild in Game 1.
Hanifin helped out on the first of Brett Howden's two goals in the third period. After being limited to one goal over his final eight regular-season games, Hanifin rested for the Golden Knights' last two contests before the playoffs. The 28-year-old defenseman will see some chances on offense, but his defensive play is what will be most valuable in the postseason. He had 39 points (10 on the power play), 145 shots on net and 106 blocked shots over 80 regular-season contests in 2024-25.
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Golden Knights' Shea Theodore: Pockets power-play helper
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Theodore notched a power-play assist in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Wild in Game 1.
Theodore has four helpers over his last four games, but this was his first power-play point since before he was hurt at the 4 Nations Face-Off. The 29-year-old defenseman still had career highs in points (57) and power-play points (19) over 67 regular-season appearances in 2024-25. Theodore will play a big role in the Golden Knights' top four and should be the most productive blueliner on the team in terms of offense.
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Golden Knights' Tomas Hertl: Tallies opening goal in win
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Hertl scored a goal on four shots, added a power-play assist and logged four hits in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Wild in Game 1.
Hertl has multiple points in each of his last two outings. The 31-year-old missed eight games late in the season due to a shoulder injury, but he looks healthy and should continue to play a prominent role for the Golden Knights. He crossed the 60-point mark for the fourth time in his career in 2024-25, earning 32 goals, 29 helpers, 23 power-play points, 177 shots on net and 99 hits in 73 regular-season appearances.
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Golden Knights' Pavel Dorofeyev: Nets power-play marker
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Dorofeyev scored a power-play goal on three shots in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Wild in Game 1.
Dorofeyev was the Golden Knights' team leader with 35 goals in the regular season, and he's not done scoring yet. He restored a lead for Vegas with his tally at 13:33 of the second period. The 24-year-old winger has scored in three straight contests. He saw just 13:23 of ice time Sunday and could see more sheltered minutes during the playoffs, but he should continue to be a factor on the power play, where he had 13 goals and 17 points during the regular season.
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Golden Knights' Brett Howden: Scores twice in Game 1
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Howden scored two goals on four shots and added three hits in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Wild in Game 1.
Both of Howden's goals came in the third period. He struck early in the frame for what would stand as the game-winner, and then added a power-play goal into an empty net in the final second. The 27-year-old earned 10 points with 19 shots on net, 22 hits and a plus-7 rating over the last 17 games of the regular season, which was a career year of 23 goals and 40 points in 80 appearances. Howden was on the fourth line Sunday, but he's versatile enough to move around the lineup as necessary.
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Golden Knights' Adin Hill: Secures Game 1 win
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Hill stopped 18 of 20 shots in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Wild in Game 1.
Hill allowed a pair of goals to Matt Boldy but was otherwise solid in the playoff opener. The 28-year-old Hill is a Stanley Cup-winning goalie from 2023, so he knows what it takes to win in the postseason. This was his fourth straight win and his ninth victory in his last 11 outings, so he's also in great form at the right time of the year. Akira Schmid and Ilya Samsonov are unlikely to see much, if any, playing time in the playoffs.
Hill will patrol the home crease against Minnesota on Sunday in Game 1, according to Jesse Granger of The Athletic.
Hill posted a 32-13-5 record with four shutouts, a 2.47 GAA and a .906 save percentage across 50 regular-season outings in 2024-25. He has gone 2-0-0 versus the Wild this campaign, stopping 38 of 40 shots faced. Minnesota finished 25th in the league with 2.74 goals per game in the regular season.
Golden Knights' Zach Whitecloud: On ice for practice Friday
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Whitecloud (rest) participated in Friday's practice session, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports, indicating that he'll be available for Sunday's Game 1 against the Wild.
Whitecloud sat out Wednesday's regular-season finale against Vancouver due to rest purposes, but he'll unsurprisingly be back in action for the start of the playoffs. He recorded four goals, nine assists, 117 hits, 103 blocked shots and 37 PIM while averaging 17:31 of ice time over 74 appearances during the regular season.
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Golden Knights' Mark Stone: Expected to return for Game 1
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Stone (rest) is slated to return for Game 1 of Vegas' first-round series against Minnesota on Sunday, per Jesse Granger of The Athletic.
Stone skipped the final two games of the regular season so that he'd be rested for the playoffs. He recorded 19 goals and 67 points in 66 regular-season outings in 2024-25. Stone is projected to start the playoffs on the first line alongside Ivan Barbashev and Jack Eichel.
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Golden Knights' Noah Hanifin: Returning to action Sunday
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Hanifin (rest) will be back in the lineup versus Minnesota on Sunday, per Jesse Granger of The Athletic.
Hanifin sat out the last two games of the season. He ended the regular season with 10 goals and 29 assists in 80 games, including 10 points on the power play.
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Golden Knights' Ivan Barbashev: Back in action Sunday
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Barbashev (rest) will return to the lineup Sunday versus Minnesota, according to Jesse Granger of The Athletic.
Barbashev sat out Wednesday's finale versus Vancouver due to rest. He had 23 goals and 51 points in 70 regular-season games in 2024-25. He will play on the top line alongside Jack Eichel and Mark Stone.
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Golden Knights' Tomas Hertl: Participates in Friday's practice
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Hertl (rest) was on the ice for Friday's practice session, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports, indicating that he should be back in action for Sunday's Game 1 against the Wild.
Hertl missed Wednesday's regular-season finale against the Canucks due to rest purposes, but he'll be back in action for the start of the playoffs. He made 73 appearances for the Golden Knights this year, logging 32 goals, 29 assists, 99 hits and 56 blocked shots while averaging 17:07 of ice time.
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Golden Knights' Brandon Saad: Slated to return for Game 1
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Saad (rest) should be in the lineup for Game 1 of Vegas' first-round series against Minnesota, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports Friday.
Saad had 13 goals and 30 points in 72 regular-season appearances between St. Louis and Vegas in 2024-25. He'll likely serve in a bottom-six capacity during the playoffs.
Golden Knights' Brett Howden: Delivers helper in win
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Howden notched an assist, two shots on goal, two PIM and a plus-2 rating in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Canucks.
Howden got a look on the top line since Ivan Barbashev was rested for this contest. The 27-year-old Howden has fit in all over the lineup this season, filling whatever role necessary. He's earned three points over the last three games and has a total of 40 points (23 goals, 17 helpers), 125 shots on net, 121 hits, 56 blocked shots, 46 PIM and a plus-17 rating over 80 regular-season outings. Versatility is a gift and a curse -- he's one of the most likely players to move around the lineup whenever head coach Bruce Cassidy shuffles his lines.
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