Vegas and Arizona are meeting for the third time in a row. They will conclude a four-game head-to-head set Sunday afternoon in Arizona.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: AT&T SportsNet (pregame show at 5:30 p.m.)
Radio: FOX Sports Las Vegas 98.9/1340 (pregame show at 5 p.m.)
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Knights improved their record to 4-0-0 for the first time in franchise history when they defeated the Arizona Coyotes, 5-2, on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena. Shea Theodore potted a pair of goals in the win while Alex Tuch had a three-point performance (1G, 2A). Mark Stone scored the game-winning goal to become the fourth player in NHL history to register a game-winning point in four straight games to help a team to a 4-0-0 start. Nick Schmaltz and Phil Kessel provided the offense for the Coyotes.
TOP PERFORMERS
Mark Stone: Stone has figured in on the game-winning goal in each of the Golden Knights' wins this season. The captain leads the club in scoring with seven points (2G, 5A) in four games.
Max Pacioretty: Pacioretty is the leading goal scorer for the Golden Knights with three goals in four games. He has four points on the season and has recorded one point in each game this season.
Shea Theodore: Theodore's two-goal game Wednesday night gave him the team leading in scoring among defensemen with four points (2G, 2A)
2019-20 SEASON SERIES
In three games in 2019-20, the Golden Knights went 2-1-0 against the Coyotes. Arizona picked up a 4-1 victory on Oct. 10 in their first meeting of the year. Vegas flipped the script on Nov. 29 as Alex Tuch scored in regulation and the shootout to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 win. Vegas and Arizona met for what became their last meeting of the season on Dec. 28 as Shea Theodore (3A) and Mark Stone (2G) led the Golden Knights to a 4-1 win.
OPPOSITION UPDATE
After starting the season with three points in four games, the Coyotes were halted by the Golden Knights with consecutive losses in regulation. Jacob Chychurn's five points (1G, 4A) are tops on the team through four games while Phil Kessel paces the club in goals with four. The team is still without captain and top defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson who sustained a lower-body injury in the second game of the season against San Jose.
WESTERN ROUNDUP
Vegas has used its perfect start to lead the race for the Honda West division with eight points in four games. The Minnesota Wild rank second with six points with the St. Louis Blues just behind them at five points. The Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks have four points each while the Arizona Coyotes and Anaheim Ducks have three points each.
VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM SCRATCHES
Stay tuned to the Golden Knights on Twitter for updates on the lineup.
KEYS TO THE GAME PRESENTED BY TOYOTA
For the Fans: Arizona is one of just a few teams in the NHL welcoming limited numbers of fans into the building for games. It can be expected that more than a few VGK fans will make the trip to Gila River Arena and will give the Golden Knights a boost from inside the building.
Blueline Scoring: Vegas was yet to receive a goal from a defenseman heading into Wednesday's game against the Coyotes. Theodore scored twice while Alex Pietrangelo scored his first as a Golden Knight to mark the first three goals from defenders for the team. Continued production from the blueline, and those two in particular, will be key for Vegas.
