Mark Stone will miss Game 4 vs Anaheim with an undisclosed lower-body injury, and Brandon Saad is set to replace him as Vegas leads 2-1.
A major blow to Vegas has arrived at the worst possible moment for the Golden Knights’ playoff chase: captain Mark Stone will miss Game 4 against Anaheim, and his absence could reshape how the series looks with Vegas holding a 2-1 lead.
The team confirmed that Stone will not play Sunday night (9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT). His injury is being described as undisclosed, but the coaching staff and timing point clearly to the damage he picked up during the first period of Game 3 on Friday.
Stone suffered the issue while chasing down a puck in the opening frame of a game Vegas ultimately dominated.. He attempted to return after apparently injuring part of his lower body. but he was unable to do so. and that kept him out of the rest of Game 3.. The Golden Knights responded in a big way anyway. running up a 6-2 victory that gave them the series advantage at 2-1.
With Stone sidelined, Brandon Saad is expected to draw into the lineup for Game 4. Coach John Tortorella has tabbed the veteran forward as Stone’s replacement, turning the spotlight onto Saad as Vegas looks to maintain its edge in the second round.
Saad’s path to this moment is notable. He scored nine points in 49 regular-season games for Vegas, and while Game 4 will be his first appearance in this postseason, he did get playoff experience with the organization last spring, playing in eight postseason games during the Golden Knights’ run.
Saad showed confidence about stepping in immediately, saying that playoff hockey is the best time of year and that he’s excited to help the team win. Those comments come as the Golden Knights weigh how much they can afford to tinker while trying to protect a lead in a high-stakes matchup.
Stone’s impact this series and this postseason season has been tangible. In Game 3, he picked up a first-period assist on Shea Theodore’s opening goal, extending the momentum early and underscoring how involved he’s been at both ends of the ice.
For the playoffs overall this season, Stone has produced three goals and four assists in nine games, figures that highlight why the Golden Knights are likely to feel his absence beyond just the points he brings.
During the regular season, Stone delivered 73 points in 60 games for Vegas, reinforcing his reputation as a dependable two-way forward.. His influence has been more than statistical for years. with the report tying him directly to the organization’s modern identity—becoming the first captain in club history before leading Vegas to the 2023 Stanley Cup championship.
That championship story is also part of the context surrounding this moment. Stone helped deliver the title, including a hat trick in the clinching victory in 2023, a reminder of the kind of high-leverage performances he has been known for when games tighten.
Meanwhile, the lineup decision leading up to Game 4 reflects the trade-offs Tortorella faced. He chose Saad over Reilly Smith, even though Smith was heavily involved in Vegas’ first-round series against Utah, playing all six games of that victory.
Smith’s postseason timeline against Anaheim is different. He was scratched for every game against Anaheim, and that’s the key reason Tortorella’s decision points toward Saad as the more immediate option to fill Stone’s role as the series moves into its pivotal chapter.
For Vegas. the challenge now is matching the physical and emotional weight Stone typically brings. even if Saad can provide energy and experience in short order.. With the Knights already ahead 2-1. the immediate question becomes whether the team can preserve its structure and finishing ability without its captain.
Anaheim, for its part, gets a clearer window to swing momentum back in its direction with Stone out.. A Game 4 response could carry outsized meaning in a playoff series. especially once a team realizes its opponent is willing to make significant adjustments rather than rely on every regular-season staple.
As the puck drops in Game 4, the Golden Knights will be trying to convert that 6-2 statement from Friday into another performance strong enough to keep pressure on Anaheim—this time without the veteran who has been central to their postseason production.
Golden Knights Mark Stone Game 4 Anaheim Ducks Brandon Saad NHL playoffs John Tortorella