San Jose can score with anyone in this division. Henderson has the ice, the building and a group of headline players rolling into Game 1, which is why the opener matters from the opening faceoff.
The Silver Knights host the Barracuda in Game 1 of a best-of-3 first-round series on Wednesday, April 22, at Lee’s Family Forum. Puck drop is 7 p.m., and every possible game in this round will be in Henderson. Henderson earned that setup by finishing third in the Pacific at 39-21-7-5 with 90 points, while San Jose slid into sixth at 40-28-2-2 with 84 points after going 2-8-0-0 in its last 10.
Why home ice matters in a best-of-3
There is no runway in this round. One bad night becomes a season-defining hole, and one great night can end the series fast. Head coach Ryan Craig made the point after the regular season ended.
“We’re very fortunate and privileged to have all three games at home,” Craig said. “But we’ve got a tough opponent coming in. Should be a real good challenge.”
That challenge is real because San Jose has enough offense to steal Game 1 if Henderson gifts them early power plays or loose puck management.
Henderson’s formula starts with Laczynski, then spreads out
If you are building a playoff game plan, start with Tanner Laczynski. He led Henderson with 64 points on 22 goals and 42 assists in 62 games, and his plus-37 was the cleanest snapshot of how often the Silver Knights won his minutes.
Then the lineup gets deep fast. Raphael Lavoie finished with 30 goals and 56 points in 45 games, and his 11 power-play goals sit right where you want a finisher in a short series. Kai Uchacz brings a heavy, north-south look with 20 goals and 51 points, while Ben Hemmerling and Trevor Connelly both finished at 49-plus points and give Henderson another layer of scoring that San Jose has to respect.
The blue line can play, too. Lukas Cormier posted 47 points in 49 games, and Dylan Coghlan added 44 points in 62 games. That matters in a best-of-3 because defensemen who can move pucks cleanly keep your forwards out of long defensive shifts.
Henderson’s team numbers back the profile. The Silver Knights scored 263 goals and allowed 225 in the regular season, and their special teams were a major lever. Henderson finished at 26.1% on the power play and 78.37% on the penalty kill.
San Jose’s attack has real bite
The Barracuda do not have to play pretty to score. They have shooters, they have a power play that can turn a period, and they have enough top-end production to punish one sloppy line change.
Filip Bystedt led them with 22 goals and 60 points in 65 games. Colin White has been their most efficient scorer at 48 points in 46 games. Oliver Wahlstrom is the pure finisher with 24 goals and a team-high 14 power-play goals, which is the number Henderson cannot ignore.
Quentin Musty (21 goals, 45 points) and Luca Cagnoni (43 points from the blue line) round out the biggest threats. If Henderson turns this into a track meet, San Jose has the horses to run with it.
The goalie edge belongs to Henderson
This is where the series tilts if the Silver Knights play their game. Carl Lindbom finished the regular season at 24-5-5 with a 2.16 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in 35 games, plus three shutouts. In a short series, that level of stability changes everything.
San Jose’s crease has looked more split. Laurent Brossoit went 15-11-1 with a 3.06 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. Gabriel Carriere went 15-12-3 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage.
Either can get hot, but Henderson has the clearer foundation in net. That is why the Silver Knights have to get to the front early, create traffic and turn saves into rebounds.
McLain’s extension and Bowman’s award set the tone
Henderson also enters Game 1 with two news pegs that fit the moment. General manager Tim Speltz announced the Silver Knights signed forward Mitch McLain to an AHL contract extension. McLain produced a career year with 22 goals and 40 points in 71 games, and he brings the exact edge teams need when the games tighten and the space disappears.
Then there is Braeden Bowman, who arrives with the league’s stamp. The AHL named him the Fortune Tires “Expect More” Player of the Month for April after he produced 14 points in eight games, including five goals, while finishing plus-11. Henderson has already seen what it looks like when Bowman’s legs are going and the puck follows him into the slot.
What decides Game 1
Discipline and special teams sit at the top of the list. Henderson finished with 914 penalty minutes, and San Jose finished with 999, so neither team is shy about living on the edge. If the whistles come early, the power play can decide the night.
Just as important, Henderson has to start on time. San Jose will push early, and the Barracuda have the scoring to make one bad period feel like two losses. If Henderson stays connected through the middle and plays a clean north game, it can force San Jose to chase.
Up Next
Game 1 is Wednesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. at Lee’s Family Forum. Game 2 is Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, is Sunday, April 26 at 3 p.m. All three games are in Henderson.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
