Vegas @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2019 ) Arizona 2, Vegas 6

The Arizona Coyotes addressed their scoring troubles in 2018-19 by acquiring six-time 30-goal scorer Phil Kessel in the offseason, but the club has yet to see much in the way of offense in its first two games. With just one goal to their credit, the Coyotes aim to get it in gear on Thursday when they host the Vegas Golden Knights.

"I'm not panicking," Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet told the Arizona Republic. "We're a good hockey club. These guys are working hard and these are winnable hockey games. ... With a little push from some individuals we could be 2-0. We need everybody to push harder." There's truth in Tocchet's words as Arizona has registered a 68-55 edge in shots, only to record a 2-1 loss to Anaheim in the season opener and 1-0 setback to Boston on Saturday. The Bruins also got the better of Vegas, which saw an early two-goal lead go by the boards after surrendering four straight tallies in a 4-3 setback on Tuesday. Mark Stone collected his third consecutive two-point performance by scoring and setting up a goal as the Golden Knights fell for the first time this season.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountains (Vegas), FS Arizona, FS Arizona-Plus

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (2-1-0): Reilly Smith extended his season-opening point streak to three games after scoring 8:20 into the first period to stake Vegas to a 2-0 lead over his former team. Fellow forward Max Pacioretty set up Stone's power-play goal in the first before tallying in the third to boost his career goal total to 249, with two coming in three games against Arizona last season. "We came out and had a very good start," the 30-year-old said. "It would've been nice to hold on to that start and maintain that intensity."

ABOUT THE COYOTES (0-2-0): Captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson said the Arizona's scoring woes this season are not on par with those of 2018-19, when the club was shut out in three of its first four games. "No, no, not at all," the 28-year-old Swede said. "I feel like we've been playing much better hockey this year, it's not even close. Even though we haven't gotten a win yet, we've just got to continue playing like we have been. It's just a matter of time." Derek Stepan, who netted the Coyotes' lone goal in the season opener, erupted for six points (four goals, two assists) in the season series versus Vegas in 2018-19.

OVERTIME

1. Golden Knights G Marc-Andre Fleury owns a 9-7-1 record with one shutout and a 2.22 goals-against average in 18 career starts versus the Coyotes.

2. Kessel scored four goals in two games versus Vegas while playing for Pittsburgh last season.

3. Stone has recorded 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 21 regular-season games with the Golden Knights.

PREDICTION: Golden Knights 4, Coyotes 1