Vegas @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 17, 2019 ) Minnesota 2, Vegas 3

The Vegas Golden Knights expect to see a familiar face rejoin their lineup on Tuesday when they visit the Minnesota Wild in Saint Paul, Minn. Top-line center William Karlsson is in line to play in his first game in nearly one month -- and first under new coach Peter DeBoer -- since breaking his finger against Buffalo on Jan. 14.

"This was a long stretch for me, and it kind of (stunk), to be honest," said Karlsson, who had played in 234 consecutive contests before sitting out the last eight with the injury. "I was very proud to play all of the games, so I was bummed about it. But now it's just about looking forward," Vegas has fared well in his absence with points in six of the eight contests (4-2-2), but it was left with a sour taste on Saturday after it allowed four third-period goals in a 6-5 shootout loss to Carolina. While the Golden Knights will visit Minnesota before playing nine of their next 10 games at home, the Wild saw their three-game winning streak come to a halt on Sunday when they opened a pivotal four-game stretch at Xcel Energy Center with a 3-2 setback to Colorado. "Last couple games have felt like playoff games; physical, good games," Minnesota defenseman Jared Spurgeon said. "But we've got to find ways to come away with them. We're in desperate need of points. A good week, but it would have been better to finish with that one."

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountains, FS North, FS Wisconsin

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (28-21-8): Paul Stastny has stepped up in Karlsson's absence, collecting 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his last eight games while seeing his average ice time increase by over two full minutes in that stretch. "He's the kind of guy that has success with anybody," left wing Jonathan Marchessault said of the 34-year-old Stastny, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "He's so smart, so poised with the puck. He makes your life easier on the ice. He's always in the right spot. He's a world-class player. We're lucky to have him." All-Star Max Pacioretty, who has scored three of his team-leading 24 goals over the last two games, had an assist in Vegas' 3-2 win over Minnesota on Dec. 17 and is slated to play in his 750th career NHL contest on Tuesday.

ABOUT THE WILD (26-23-6): Zach Parise celebrated his 1,000th NHL game on Friday and set up Spurgeon's power-play goal two nights later to inch closer to another milestone, as the 35-year-old resides one assist shy of 400 for his career. Parise has recorded eight points (six goals, two assists) in his past 10 contests while Kevin Fiala has erupted for four goals and three assists on his four-game point streak. Fiala also set up Parise's goal with 1:15 remaining in the third period of Minnesota's first meeting with Vegas.

OVERTIME

1. Minnesota acquired LW Alex Galchenyuk, D Calen Addison and a conditional first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft from Pittsburgh on Monday in exchange for LW Jason Zucker.

2. Golden Knights G Marc-Andre Fleury owns a 4-9-0 record with a 3.18 goals-against average and .890 save percentage in 13 career starts versus the Wild.

3. Minnesota C Eric Staal has collected six goals and 11 points in seven career contests against Vegas.

PREDICTION: Wild 4, Golden Knights 2