If the Vegas Golden Knights hadn’t been burdened with the injury bug all year, they’d likely have a different outlook heading into game No. 82.
Even though all eight spots in the Western Conference playoff picture have been clinched, Vegas needs two points against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday to claim the Pacific Division’s third seed.
This steadily healing roster is showing poise with three straight wins as it prepares to defend its 2023 Stanley Cup title.
The Ducks are one game away from being put out of their misery in a season that will serve as the catalyst for a summer roster blowup.
Anaheim won two of the three previous meetings with Vegas, but the Golden Knights have controlled five-on-five play and outshot the Ducks in all three meetings.
The only issue for Vegas in those losses was goaltending trouble.
Logan Thompson denied only 83.3 percent of the shots he faced.
Adin Hill, who is slated to start Thursday in Sin City, earned the 4-1 victory over Anaheim at home on Oct. 14, 2023.
Hill maintains an admirable 7.5 GSAx (goals saved above expected) as he returns to form from injury.
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He should get a carousel ride against a Ducks club that ranks 28th in shooting percentage and 26th in expected goal share in his last tune-up before the playoffs.
The Knights are a top-10 threat in high danger scoring, which primes them to chase this flock off into the offseason horizon in the season finale.
The play: Golden Knights -1.5 goals (-125, DraftKings).