On Thursday, the Vegas Golden Knights (7-4-4) close out a six-game homestand. They’ve won just one game over the homestand and will look to close it out on a high note. They’ll face the New York Islanders (8-6-2) at T-Mobile Arena.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. PST.
The Golden Knights were last in action on Monday against the Florida Panthers. Their power play continued to struggle; they went 0-for-3, including a full minute wasted on a 5-on-3. They attempted a third-period multi-goal comeback, but fell just short and lost 3-2.
The Islanders last played on Monday against the New Jersey Devils. Despite allowing a tying goal in the waning seconds of regulation, they recovered for a 3-2 overtime victory.
Akira Schmid was the first goaltender off the ice at morning skate, so he’ll get the start. Schmid has a record of 2-2-0 and an average save percentage of .881 in four career games against the Islanders.
Ilya Sorokin will start for the Islanders. Sorokin has a record of 3-2-1 and an average save percentage of .939 in seven career games against the Golden Knights.
Golden Knights Lines
Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Mitch Marner
Pavel Dorofeyev — Tomáš Hertl — Braedan Bowman
Brandon Saad — Brett Howden — Reilly Smith
Cole Reinhardt — Colton Sissons — Keegan Kolesar
Defense
Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin — Kaedan Korczak
Jeremy Lauzon — Zach Whitecloud
Goaltenders: Akira Schmid / Carl Lindbom
Islanders Lines
Emil Heineman — Bo Horvat — Kyle Palmieri
Jonathan Drouin — Mathew Barzal — Simon Holmstrom
Anders Lee — John-Gabriel Pageau — Anthony Duclair
Casey Cizikas — Calum Ritchie — Maxim Tsyplakov
Defense
Matthew Schaefer — Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech — Tony DeAngelo
Alexander Romanov — Adam Boqvist
Goaltenders: Ilya Sorokin / David Rittich
Special Teams
VGK power play: 22.6%, 12th
VGK penalty kill: 77.5%, 19th
Islanders power play: 17.7%, 21st
Islanders penalty kill: 78.4%, 17th
Golden Knights Game Notes
Last season, the Golden Knights went 0-2-0 against the Islanders. They’re 6-6-2 against them all-time.
Tonight, Brayden McNabb will skate in his 600th game as a Golden Knight. He is the first player in franchise history to reach that milestone.
Braedan Bowman, a 22-year-old undrafted forward, will make his NHL debut tonight. He described the opportunity as a “pinch-me moment.”
Mitch Marner has 10 goals and 21 points in 22 career games against the Islanders.
Ivan Barbashev is on a four-game point streak. He has four goals and six points over that stretch.
We’re on milestone watch! Reilly Smith is one point away from 300 as a Golden Knight.
The Golden Knights have a record of 4-3-2 at the Fortress this season; the Islanders are 4-3-1 on the road.
How to Watch
TV: Vegas 34
Streaming: KnightTime+
Radio: FOX Sports Las Vegas 98.9/1340