GAME DAY: Golden Knights face Dallas Stars with trip to Stanley Cup Final at stake
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The Vegas Golden Knights return to the ice Friday night to take on the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final.
It's the second time these two teams will face off with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final on the line, the first coming in 2020 when the Stars emerged victorious.
This time around, Pete DeBoer will be standing on the Dallas bench, facing his former team after being fired last offseason.
When asked if he wants to use the DeBoer connection to motivate the team, Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy kept his answer short.
"Well, I don't, 'cause I like Pete. He's a nice guy," Cassidy answered to laughs from reporters Wednesday. He acknowledged that tempers could flare due to prior playoff meetings between the two teams.
Vegas defeated the Edmonton Oilers in six games in the second round of the playoffs, while the Stars overcame the Seattle Kraken in seven games.
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The Golden Knights will have a fresh face in Jack Eichel, who is making his first trip to the playoffs this year. Eichel leads the team in points (14) and assists (8) this postseason and is tied for the lead in goals with six.
"You know, we've done a good job gelling as a team this year and I think everyone enjoys each other's company, and I think with that it just kind of allows you to be yourself every day," Eichel said Thursday.
Dallas is led by left-winger Roope Hintz, who has nine goals and 10 assists this postseason, and veteran center Joe Pavelski, who has eight goals.
Pavelski is no stranger to Vegas, having racked up 5 goals and 5 assists against the Golden Knights in 19 career playoff games as a member of both the Stars and San Jose Sharks.
Game 1 starts at 5:30 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena.
