NOTES
The Golden Knights haven't lost a road game in regulation since Dec. 1, 2021, with a 6-5 loss in Anaheim.
Thursday's game is the third of a four-game road trip that features stops in Washington, Carolina, Florida, and Tampa Bay. Vegas is 1-0-0 through two games.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: FOX Sports 98.9/1340
LAST TIME OUT
Vegas took its first road loss in nearly two months in a 4-3 overtime defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night at PNC Arena. Vegas overcame two two-goal deficits to earn a point as Nolan Patrick, Brett Howden and Nicolas Hague each inked their names on the scoresheet.
OPPOSITION UPDATE
Florida enters Thursday's game as the NHL's top team with a 29-9-5 record and 63 points. The Panthers sit two points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning (61 points) for first place in the Atlantic Division. Despite the team's high standing, the Panthers rank 15th in the league in penalty killing (80.6 percent) and 13th on the power play (20.9 percent). Florida has scored a league-high 173 goals this season.
Jonathan Huberdeau leads the way for Florida as he ranks among the NHL leaders in scoring with 58 points (16G, 42A) through 43 games. Aaron Ekblad ranks second on the club with 39 points (10G, 29A) from the Florida blueline. Sam Reinhart (12G, 25A), Anthony Duclair (18G, 16A), Aleksander Barkov (18G, 16A) and Carter Verhaeghe (15G, 19A) have all eclipsed the 30-point mark.
WHEN LAST WE MET
Vegas swept the season series with the Panthers in 2019-20 when the teams last shared the ice. On Feb. 6, 2020, Mark Stone had five points (2G, 3A) in a 7-2 win for the Golden Knights in Florida. Two weeks later, Vegas completed the season sweep with a 5-3 win at T-Mobile Arena on Feb. 22, 2020.
VGK SCORING LEADERS
Chandler Stephenson - 38 points (12G, 26A)
Jonathan Marchessault - 30 points (19G, 11A)
Shea Theodore - 30 points (8G, 22A)
Reilly Smith - 29 points (11G, 18A)
Mark Stone - 26 points (7G, 19A)
Alex Pietrangelo - 26 points (6G, 20A)
Max Pacioretty - 21 points (12G, 9A)
Evgenii Dadonov - 21 points (10G, 11A)
Nicolas Roy - 21 points (8G, 13A)
A VEGAS VICTORY WOULD…
- Mark the 199th win in franchise history
- Give the Golden Knights a 2-0-1 record on the trip
KEYS TO THE GAME
High Alert: The Panthers boast a lineup that poses an offensive threat no matter who is on the ice. Vegas will have to be ready for quick-strike looks from the Cats.
From the Top:Depth scoring has been the reason Vegas has picked up three of four points on the trip. For the points to keep coming, the Golden Knights will look to their top scorers to contribute against the Panthers.
