VGK CGY preview

GOLDEN KNIGHTS (37-24-8) at FLAMES (36-26-7)
7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SN, ATTSN-RM, NHL.TV

Vegas, which is 9-2-0 in its past 11 games and 12-4-1 in its past 17, is tied with the Edmonton Oilers.
Calgary has won three in a row and is 5-1-1 in its past seven games. The Flames are three points behind Vegas and Edmonton, and they lead the Vancouver Canucks by three points for third in the Pacific Division.

#

Players to watch

Golden Knights forward William Karlsson has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past six games.
Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has two goals and three assists during a four-game point streak.

They said it

"It's big games, division games, four-point games. Our division is so tight. Everyone knows that. If you can create some separation somehow, it'll be huge. Division games are going to be really important (from) here on out, so we need to be sharp and be ready for them." -- Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb
"It's a huge game in order to try to get the division. There's different scenarios every night it seems like, but they're all huge and we just want to keep playing well. It's a huge opportunity. It's another four-point game against a team who is leading our division. We definitely look at all those things, for sure." -- Calgary defenseman Mark Giordano

Golden Knights projected lineup
Flames projected lineup
Status report

Neither team held a morning skate. … Flames coach Geoff Ward did not declare a starting goalie following practice Saturday.

Stat pack

Pacioretty has 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in his past 14 games. …Lehner is 2-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .967 save percentage with one shutout in two starts with Vegas, which acquired him in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 24. …Tkachuk has four points (one goal, three assists) in his past two games. …Backlund has 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in his past 15 games. … Brodie has scored a goal in three straight games for the first time in his NHL career.