ANAHEIM, Calif. \u2014 The goal could\u2019ve gone in any imaginable way. The fact is, it went in.<\/p>\n
The Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> will soon find out if Tomas Hertl\u2019s goal in the waning moments of Game 4 Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks is what gets the center going.<\/p>\n Hertl\u2019s goal with 1:04 remaining in the Knights\u2019 4-3 loss<\/a> was his first goal since March 4, ending a run of 29 games \u2014 including playoffs \u2014 without finding the back of the net.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know with goal scorers, an empty-netter, 6-on-5, it doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d coach John Tortorella said. \u201cIf the puck goes in the net, hopefully it releases him a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Hertl is, in fact, a goal scorer. He has a shot, but the basic construct of his game is using his 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame to get to the front of the net.<\/p>\n Even though the goal came with the Knights down two and with an extra attacker on the ice, he jammed the puck through Anaheim goalie Lukas Dostal to give the Knights a chance late.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s a 2-2 series heading into Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday, and the Knights have home-ice advantage with the series now a best-of-three.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been close for quite a while,\u201d Tortorella said. \u201cHe bangs one in, and hopefully that will help him as we move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n The Knights are going to need all the help they can get if captain Mark Stone isn\u2019t close to a return.<\/p>\n Stone missed Sunday<\/a> after leaving Game 3 with a lower-body injury, putting the status of one of the Knights\u2019 important playmakers into question for what will be the most important game of the year.<\/p>\n It\u2019s no shock the Knights are a different team without Stone. Take out his defensive ability and hockey IQ, and it makes a difference. They were 8-9-5 without him during the regular season.<\/p>\n With him, they were 31-17-12.<\/p>\n \u201cYou move on,\u201d defenseman Brayden McNabb said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what the score was. It could\u2019ve been 6-0, 1-0, whatever it may be. It\u2019s a best-of-three with home ice. We have to get our rest and be ready for the next one.\u201d<\/p>\n But if that goal is what turns Hertl\u2019s confidence around, it could be what the Knights need as they try to stay above water without Stone.<\/p>\n Hertl went back on the first power-play unit with, Mitch Marner taking Stone\u2019s spot below the goal line. Hertl will get his chances from his net-front position.<\/p>\n Even strength is going to be the question, because Hertl\u2019s line hasn\u2019t produced from that perspective.<\/p>\n Brandon Saad was the replacement for Stone on Sunday, but he played a team-low 7:20. Hertl\u2019s line with Saad and Kolesar was outshot 4-1 while on the ice for 4:10 at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick.<\/p>\n Tortorella felt the line gave the Knights some good minutes, but the line just fell out of favor because of special teams.<\/p>\n The Knights committed four penalties and had three power plays of their own.<\/p>\n \u201cThe big guy there is Tommy. He\u2019s seen all the power play time. He\u2019s a good faceoff guy,\u201d Tortorella said. \u201cHe\u2019s the one I think needs to kick in here, and hopefully him scoring a goal is going to help him. We\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com.<\/a> Follow @DannyWebster21<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n Who: Ducks at Golden Knights<\/p>\n What: Game 5, second round (series tied 2-2)<\/p>\n When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday<\/p>\n Where: T-Mobile Arena<\/p>\n TV: ESPN<\/p>\n Radio: KFLG 94.7 FM\/KKGK 1340 AM<\/p>\n Line: Knights -155; total 6<\/p>\n \u2014<\/p>\n Series schedule<\/p>\n Series tied 2-2<\/p>\n Game 1: Knights 3, Ducks 1<\/p>\n Game 2: Ducks 3, Knights 1<\/p>\n Game 3: Knights 6, Ducks 2<\/p>\n Game 4: Ducks 4, Knights 3<\/p>\n Game 5: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena (ESPN)<\/p>\n Game 6: Thursday, 6:30 p.m. at Honda Center (TNT)<\/p>\n *Game 7: Saturday, TBD at T-Mobile Arena (ESPN or ABC)<\/p>\n *if necessary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ANAHEIM, Calif. \u2014 The goal could\u2019ve gone in any imaginable way. The fact is, it went in. 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