Vegas SanJose preview

GOLDEN KNIGHTS (19-13-6) at SHARKS (16-19-2)
10 p.m. ET; SN, SN360, NBCSCA, ATTSN-RM, NHL.TV

The Golden Knights are tied for first in the Pacific Division with the Edmonton Oilers and Arizona Coyotes. They're 3-0-1 in their past four and 8-2-2 in their past 12.
Malcolm Subban will make his first start in four games for Vegas. Subban made 30 saves in his last appearance, a 3-2 overtime win against the Dallas Stars on Dec. 13.
The Sharks have lost two straight and are 1-7-1 in their past nine games. They are 1-3-0 since Bob Boughner replacer Peter DeBoer as coach on Dec. 11. Aaron Dell will start in goal for San Jose.

Players to watch

Golden Knights forward Mark Stone has a six-game point streak (two goals, eight assists) including four goals and six assists in a four-game multipoint streak.
Sharks forward Tomas Hertl has a five-game point streak (four goals, two assists).

They said it

"We've played them well, they've played us well. It's going to be a battle like it always is. Things change. They're not where they want to be. It's going to be a good game."-- Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant.
"We talk every day how important every point is, how important every game is. We can't have anyone take a night off. We have to have 20 on board. For the most part we're getting good compete, we're getting good effort but there's still one or two guys missing each night." -- Sharks coach Bob Boughner.

Golden Knights projected lineup
Sharks projected lineup
Status report

The Sharks did not hold a morning skate. … Merrill will play for the first time in three games. … Eakin and Glass are day to day. Glass skated for the second straight day. Eakin worked out off-ice.

Stat pack

Pacioretty has a six-game point streak (five goals, five assists). … Tuch needs one point for 100 career points. … Thornton needs two assists to tie Adam Oates (1,079) for seventh place on the NHL all-time list. … Theodore has a four-game point streak (one goal, six assists).