(Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

Golden Knights captain Mark Stone will be on the ice Sunday night when Vegas faces the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals at Las Vegas.

Vegas coach John Tortorella made the announcement approximately 2 1/2 hours before the puck was dropped. The Golden Knights lead the series, 2-0.

Meanwhile, Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar was in the lineup for Colorado for the first time this series. He missed the first two games with an upper-body injury and appeared to be a game-time decision, with Avalanche coach Jared Bednar playing it close to the vest and telling reporters 'you'll have to wait and see' before the game.

Makar has appeared in nine games this postseason and had four goals and one assist.

Stone, 34, had missed the past five games since sustaining a lower-body injury on May 8 in Game 3 of the second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks.

Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin was excited about the return of Stone, a clutch player with 92 points (44 goals, 48 assists) in 121 career postseason games.

'It's huge,' Hanifin told reporters of Stone. '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.'

Stone has recorded seven points (three goals, four assists) in nine games during the playoffs.

Stone matched career highs with 73 points (28 goals, 45 assists) and a plus-26 rating in 60 games this season.

Over 766 NHL games with the Ottawa Senators (2012-19) and Golden Knights, Stone has 707 points (259 goals, 448 assists) and a plus-167 rating.

Makar, 27, won the Norris Trophy given to the league's best defenseman in 2021-22 and 2024-25, and he is nominated again this season.

He won the Conn Smythe Trophy when the Avalanche captured the Stanley Cup four years ago.

Makar has 507 points (136 goals, 371 assists) in 470 career games over seven seasons with the Avalanche. He tallied 20 goals and 59 assists in 75 games during the 2025-26 regular season.

--Field Level Media