Stone returns, scores for Golden Knights in Game 3 win in Western Final

LAS VEGAS -- The Vegas Golden Knights got their captain back.

Forward Mark Stone returned to the Golden Knights' lineup and had a goal and an assist in a 5-3 come-from-behind win against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday.

Vegas leads the best-of-7 series 3-0 and can advance to the Stanley Cup Final with another win in Game 4 here on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS, CBC).

Stone, who had missed the previous five games with a lower-body injury, began Vegas' comeback just 19 seconds into the second period on Sunday, scoring a power-play goal to cut the deficit to 3-1. He then had the primary assist on Tomas Hertl's goal at 8:21 of the third period that gave the Golden Knights a 4-3 lead.

“It’s huge,” Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin said before the game when asked about Stone’s addition to the lineup. “Obviously, his talent speaks for itself, but just his character and leadership, just to have him back in the room and get his voice back, it’s going to be huge for our team.

“Anytime he comes back it’s like he didn’t miss a beat, so we’re very excited to have him back in the lineup.”

The Golden Knights returned home after winning each of the first two games, 4-2 and 3-1, at Ball Arena in Denver, where the Avalanche were previously 5-0 in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Teams that take a 3-0 lead in a best-of-7 semifinal hold an all-time series record of 49-0, including 13-0 when starting on the road.

Stone had 73 points (28 goals, 45 assists) in 60 games during the regular season, then added seven points (three goals, four assists) in nine games during these playoffs before being sidelined in the second round against the Anaheim Ducks.

In 122 career postseason games, Stone has 94 points (45 goals, 49 assists). His best playoff year came in 2023, when he had 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 22 games en route to helping the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup.

“No one wants to be out there more than Mark,” Hanifin said. “He’s one of the most competitive guys I’ve ever played with in my career ... how much he loves the game, how passionate he is about the game. 

“It’s hard this time of year, obviously, not being able to be out there with the guys, but he did all the work he can just to make it, make sure he’s back and ready to go.”