Down 1-0 in the third period of Game 2 against the Anaheim Ducks, Golden Knights coach John Tortorella shuffled his forward lines looking for a spark. The combination he landed on — William Karlsson centering Mitch Marner and Brett Howden — produced a 4-1 edge in shot attempts in 3:51 of 5-on-5 time, according to Natural Stat Trick, and created several dangerous scoring chances.
“We certainly liked what it looked like in the third,” Tortorella said. “I’m not sure where it all is going to work as far as lines next game.”
The Knights lost 3-1 to even the best-of-seven series at a game apiece, but the new-look line offered a glimpse of potential. Karlsson, playing in his second game since returning from a near-six-month absence because of a lower-body injury, saw his ice time increase to 13:19 and went 8-for-9 in the faceoff circle.
“I felt better today,” Karlsson said. “So, that’s a step forward. Legs were not cramping, so that’s good.”
Karlsson started the game with Tomas Hertl and Keegan Kolesar, but Kolesar (8:51) and Hertl (11:46) played the fewest minutes among forwards. In the third period, Tortorella moved Karlsson to the top power-play unit and paired him with Marner and Howden, who have been the Knights’ best offensive duo this postseason. Captain Mark Stone shifted back to the top line with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev, while Pavel Dorofeyev dropped to Hertl’s line.
Karlsson’s best scoring chance came at 2:19 of the third period, but Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal made the save. “It’s 1-0, and Bill has a great chance,” Tortorella said. “The goalie makes a great save. You look at those types of situations, if we score, does that jumpstart us a little bit? But give the goalie credit.”
The Knights have managed only four goals through two games, raising some concern against a Ducks team that swarmed them in all three zones Wednesday. Game 3 is Friday at Honda Center in Anaheim. Tortorella has shown in the Utah series he’s not afraid to change lines mid-game, and with Reilly Smith and Brandon Saad waiting in the wings, further adjustments could come.
“I don’t know what the lines are going to be,” Tortorella said, adding that he thought Karlsson “felt more comfortable tonight.”
