Los Angeles @ Vegas preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 16, 2019 ) Vegas 3, Los Angeles 4

The Los Angeles Kings will face a quick turnaround as they open a five-game trip Thursday with a Pacific Division matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Kings lost the last three contests of their four-game homestand that finished Wednesday with a 2-1 setback to Dallas.

The Kings have struggled to find the back of the net as their 2.51 goals per game are the second-fewest in the NHL this season, and they’re down to 2.1 over their last nine contests (2-6-1). It looked like Wednesday night might be different as Anze Kopitar scored his team-leading 16th goal of the season on the Kings’ first shot of the game 2:01 into the first period, but they returned to form and were shut out the rest of the way. Vegas saw its season-best four-game win streak end with a 4-3 home loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday despite allowing only 16 shots - the fewest surrendered in a defeat in franchise history. “I thought we played good,” Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury told the media after making 12 saves against his former team. “Obviously, we were down quickly and we battled back in the game. For my part, I feel like I let the guys down. I let too many goals in on not many shots. That can’t happen.”

TIME: 10 p.m. ET. TV: AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, FS West

ABOUT THE KINGS (17-24-4): Kopitar’s goal was the 328th of his 14-year career - all with Los Angeles, which moved him past Bernie Nicholls for fourth-most in franchise history, and behind third-place Dave Taylor’s 431. Left wing Alex Iafallo had the assist and extended his point streak to a career-best eight games (four goals, five assists). Goaltender Jack Campbell is sporting a 2.92 goals-against average and .894 save percentage, and is expected to start the second night of a back-to-back Thursday after Jonathan Quick made 30 saves against the Stars.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (24-16-6): Left wing Max Pacioretty had a productive game Tuesday registering a team-high nine shots and his team-leading 19th goal of the season along with three hits - his most since Nov. 25 against Dallas. Center Paul Stastny saw a season-high 22:26 of ice time against the Penguins and netted his 12th goal of the season, extending his points streak to three games (two goals, two assists). Mark Stone dished out his team-best 26th assist on Stastny’s goal and has five goals and 18 points in his last 14 games.

OVERTIME

1. Golden Knights RW Reilly Smith scored his 17th goal of the season Tuesday and sits third on the team with 35 points.

2. Kings C Jeff Carter sits second on the squad with 12 goals but also carries a team-worst minus-13 rating.

3. Vegas ranks third in the NHL in shots per game (34.1) while the Kings are fifth (33.6).

PREDICTION: Golden Knights 4, Kings 2