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Eichel logged two assists, including one on the power play, and added two PIM in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Mammoth in Game 2.
Eichel didn't get on the scoresheet in the playoff opener Sunday, but he bounced back by helping out on goals for Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev in this contest. The 29-year-old Eichel is locked in as the Golden Knights' top center after a 90-point effort over 74 regular-season contests. That includes 28 power-play points, and he added 260 shots on net and a plus-23 rating. Eichel is in his fourth career playoff run, and over 40 postseason appearances prior to this year, he had a total of 10 goals and 43 points, including a league-best 26 points in 22 games when Vegas won the Stanley Cup in 2023.
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Golden Knights' Ivan Barbashev: Tallies again in loss
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Barbashev scored a goal on two shots, added two PIM, doled out four hits and went minus-2 in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Mammoth in Game 2.
Barbashev has two goals over as many games to start this first-round series. The winger looks poised to remain a fixture in the Golden Knights' top six, though head coach John Tortorella has done some shuffling already, looking for the best role for Mitch Marner between first-line winger and second-line center. Barbashev is versatile enough to play on any line, but as long as he stays in a prominent spot, he should be a solid contributor on offense.
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Golden Knights' Mark Stone: Opens scoring on power play
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Stone scored a power-play goal on three shots and added two PIM in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Mammoth in Game 2.
Stone has a power-play tally in both games so far in this first-round series, and he's contributed at least one power-play point in five of his last six outings. The 33-year-old winger's top-line role at even strength should help him stay productive even if the Golden Knights' power play cools off. As long as Stone stays healthy, he'll be a critical part of the Vegas offense.
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Golden Knights' Carter Hart: Loses to Mammoth in Game 2
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Hart stopped 26 of 29 shots in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Mammoth in Game 2.
Hart didn't let the game get out of hand, but a goal in each period from the Mammoth gave him his first loss since he returned from a lower-body injury. Through the first two games of the season, Hart has allowed five goals on 62 shots, and he's faced a bit more traffic than Karel Vejmelka as the Mammoth have been able to put some pressure on the Golden Knights' defense. One loss probably won't cause head coach John Tortorella to turn away from Hart in goal, so expect the 27-year-old to get the nod in Game 3 on Friday in Utah.
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Golden Knights' Carter Hart: Poised to start Game 2
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After being the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, Hart is expected to patrol the home crease in Game 2 against Utah on Tuesday, SinBin.vegas reports.
Hart stopped 133 of 143 shots during a six-game winning streak to finish the 2025-26 regular season. He carried that momentum into the start of the playoffs, making 31 saves in Sunday's 4-2 victory over the Mammoth. Utah was unable to hold 1-0 and 2-1 leads in Game 1, and Hart held it together before his teammates rallied for the comeback win in the third period.
Golden Knights' Noah Hanifin: Supplies pair of assists
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Hanifin logged two assists in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Mammoth in Game 1.
Hanifin has picked up the pace with seven helpers over his last nine contests, though he hasn't gotten on the scoresheet in consecutive games. The defenseman had a down year with 28 points, 135 shots on net and 116 blocked shots over 71 regular-season appearances, missing the 30-point mark for the first time since the shortened 2020-21 campaign. Hanifin is skating in his sixth playoff run, and he's earned 18 points over 45 outings across his previous five trips to the postseason.
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Golden Knights' Nic Dowd: Tallies game-winner Sunday
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Dowd scored a goal, added three hits and went plus-2 in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Mammoth in Game 1.
Dowd has two goals and three helpers over his last 10 contests. In the regular season, the defensive center totaled five goals, 21 points, 66 shots on net, 140 hits, 50 blocked shots and 73 PIM over 75 appearances between the Golden Knights and the Capitals. He brings 40 games of playoff experience into this postseason, though he's earned just six points in those previous outings. Dowd's offense won't be a big factor, but his faceoff skills and reliable defense will keep him in the lineup.
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Golden Knights' Ivan Barbashev: Deposits empty-netter
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Barbashev scored an empty-net goal and added eight hits in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Mammoth in Game 1.
Barbashev had 14 points over the last 13 games of the regular season, and he finished the campaign at a career-high 61 points in all 82 contests. The 30-year-old's physical playing style and responsible two-way game are a great fit for playoff hockey, so he should continue to see prominent minutes for the Golden Knights. He also brings plenty of experience as a two-time Stanley Cup champion (2019 with St. Louis, 2023 with Vegas) with 33 points over 90 playoff contests across eight previous postseason runs.
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Golden Knights' Colton Sissons: Produces pair of points
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Sissons scored a goal, dished an assist, doled out four hits, blocked two shots and went plus-3 in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Mammoth in Game 1.
Sissons had just one multi-point effort in his 66 games during the regular season. He was limited to 11 points this year, his lowest total since he had 10 over 58 outings with the Predators in 2016-17. Sissons is no stranger to playoff hockey, having seen the postseason in eight of his first 11 NHL campaigns. He produced 25 points over 71 playoff contests in those years, though he hasn't been past the first round since 2017-18. The 32-year-old will provide grit and defense from a fourth-line role.
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Golden Knights' Mark Stone: Ties game on power play
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Stone scored a power-play goal on four shots and added three hits in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Mammoth in Game 1.
Stone tied the game at 2-2 in the third period. The 33-year-old winger has six goals and four assists over his last nine outings after ending the regular season in good form. Stone tied his career high with 73 points in just 60 regular-season appearances this year. He's a veteran of 112 playoff games from previous postseason runs, totaling 41 goals and 85 points in those contests.
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Golden Knights' Carter Hart: Keeps Mammoth in check in Game 1
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Hart stopped 32 of 34 shots in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Mammoth in Game 1.
Hart has yet to lose since returning from a lower-body injury that cost him more than two months of games. The 27-year-old's winning ways have given him the No. 1 job between the pipes for Vegas to begin the postseason, which has a Stanley Cup champion on the roster in Adin Hill should Hart falter. This is just the second time Hart has gotten into the playoffs -- he went 9-5 with a 2.23 GAA and a .926 save percentage in 14 games for the Flyers in the bubble in 2020.
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Golden Knights' Carter Hart: Game 1 starter
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Hart will get the start in net for Sunday's Game 1 against the Mammoth, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
Hart has appeared in only 18 games this season, but there aren't many hotter goalies in the sport right now. Since returning in April, the 27-year-old has won six straight starts and has allowed two goals or fewer in all but one of them. Hart has brought much-needed stability to a Golden Knights crease that has struggled this season overall. He brings an 11-3-3 record into the postseason with a 2.71 GAA and an .891 save percentage. The Mammoth ranked 12th in the NHL at 3.27 goals per game in the regular season.
Golden Knights' William Karlsson: Not close to returning
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Karlsson (lower body) isn't expected to participate in the 2026 postseason unless Vegas manages a long playoff run, general manager Kelly McCrimmon said Friday, per Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Karlsson hasn't been explicitly ruled out for the first round, but based on that outlook, it sounds like he shouldn't be expected to play in the opening series. Vegas is set to begin its playoff run against Utah with Game 1 scheduled for Sunday. Karlsson had four goals and seven points in 14 regular-season outings in 2025-26.
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