Vegas @ New Jersey preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 14, 2018 ) New Jersey 8, Vegas 3

The Vegas Golden Knights and New Jersey Devils are headed in opposite directions, although the clubs are similar in one respect - enjoying success at home while struggling on the road. However, while the Golden Knights have shown improvement on all fronts in the past month, New Jersey has regressed and looks to avoid a ninth loss in 10 games against visiting Vegas on Friday night.

The Golden Knights kicked off a four-game road trip with a 3-2 victory at the New York Islanders on Wednesday night to win for the ninth time in their last 11 contests. "We come out to get two points. We don't come out to put a show on the road," Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said after his team notched a season-low 17 shots. "It's a big win for us, but now we've got three more tough games." The Devils concluded a 1-1-1 road trip with a 5-2 loss at San Jose - their 19th defeat in 25 games (6-13-6) since a 4-0-0 start to the season. "It's tough to win when you keep finding ways to beat yourselves," New Jersey center center Travis Zajac said. "We can't consistently string together any momentum."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, AT&T Sportsnet-Rocky Mountain (Las Vegas), MSG Plus (New Jersey)

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (18-14-1): Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has been in net for each start during the team's current 9-2-0 run, but had a forgettable performance in a home loss to New Jersey last March when he was yanked after allowing four goals on 11 shots. William Karlsson, who led the team in goals (43) and points (78) in the franchise's inaugural season in 2017-18, is heating up after a slow start and has scored in back-to-back games, giving him six tallies over the last nine contests and a club high-tying 24 points. The Golden Knights are 9-for-34 on the power play over the last 10 games.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (10-13-6): New Jersey could be without leading scorer Taylor Hall, who twice skated off the ice during Thursday's practice with an apparent injury, although coach John Hynes shed little light on what was bothering the reigning league MVP. “I don’t have much for you yet," Hynes told reporters afterward. “I just know they pulled him off for precautionary reasons.” Hall, who has collected three goals and nine assists in the past 10 games to give him a team-high 31 points, did not have an injury issue entering practice, according to Hynes, and has not missed a game this season.

OVERTIME

1. Devils G Keith Kinkaid has allowed at least four goals in six of his last seven starts.

2. Vegas F Jonathan Marchessault has a team-high 12 goals but has scored once in six games against New Jersey.

3. Devils D Damon Severson picked up his 14th assist Monday, one fewer than his total in 76 games last season.

PREDICTION: Golden Knights 3, Devils 2