This is it: Golden Knights begin first round series with Mammoth

The Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators, followed by the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, featured tight checking and quality goaltending as the differences. Whether it was nerves or the standard playoff hockey experience, that is the kind of game the Golden Knights need to prepare for against the Mammoth. Shot suppression and forechecking have always been a part of their identity, and it will have to be more than ever now.

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On Friday, fans got a glimpse of what John Tortorella is doing as he tinkers with the lineup.

Mitch Marner is now back on the wing with Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, putting three of the Golden Knights’ biggest offensive threats all on the same line. Ivan Barbashev, who typically is on the left wing with Eichel and Stone, will be with Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden to begin the playoffs, while William Karlsson’s pending inclusion at some point in the playoffs could throw a wrench into the middle six. Despite winning seven of eight games since Tortorella took over for Bruce Cassidy behind the Vegas bench, the veteran head coach is still looking to make changes now and have time to iron out the kinks instead of having to scramble for answers later.

Hart of a champion

The biggest storyline of all for the Golden Knights heading into the playoffs is whether Carter Hart can continue his torrid pace.

Since returning the lineup on April 2, Hart has played like a goaltender possessed, producing a 1.67 goals against average and .925 save percentage in the six games he has played. That stretch has earned him the right to start Game One, but the postseason brings a whole new dimension of pressure. With expectations riding heavily on Hart’s shoulders, his performance from this point forward will be what defines the Golden Knights in the weeks ahead.