ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Vegas Golden Knights will try to grab a 3-1 series lead over the Anaheim Ducks without their captain.

Mark Stone is sidelined for Sunday’s Game 4 at Honda Center because of a lower-body injury, coach John Tortorella announced during morning skate.

Stone got hurt late in the first period of Game 3 on Friday. He attempted to return in the second period but aggravated the injury while skating during a timeout.

Brandon Saad will make his postseason debut, slotting in on the third line left wing alongside Tomas Hertl and Keegan Kolesar. Saad, 33, hasn’t played since April 11 and was a healthy scratch for the first-round series against Utah.

“Playoff hockey is the best time of year,” Saad said. “I’m excited to get in and help the team win.”

Pavel Dorofeyev moves up to first-line right wing in Stone’s place. Mitch Marner will replace Stone on the top power-play unit below the goal line, and Tomas Hertl returns to his usual spot in front of the net on that unit.

Reilly Smith, who played in the first round but was scratched after William Karlsson returned, remains out of the lineup. Tortorella said both Saad and Smith were options, but Saad “gets the call tonight.”

Saad brings experience with 112 career playoff games. He played in eight of the Knights’ 11 postseason games last year before missing the final three games of the second-round series against Edmonton due to injury.

“It’s tough. Staying in shape and all that is easy, but getting in the game is mentally (hard), it’s a different energy, different feeling,” Saad said. “Just getting my legs going, getting on the forecheck.”

Stone is the Knights’ all-time postseason scoring leader with 79 points in 94 games. Center Nic Dowd acknowledged the challenge: “(Stone) is obviously a huge piece of this team. I think he makes a big difference. We have guys that can step up and tow the line.”