Blues at Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights are off to the best start by an NHL expansion team (5-1-0) and hope to continue their winning ways when they host the formidable St. Louis Blues on Saturday. Vegas, which has also matched the 1917-18 Montreal Canadiens for the most successful beginning to an inaugural season, improved to 3-1-0 on its seven-game homestand with a 5-4 overtime victory over Buffalo on Tuesday.
"I think (we're) a better team than people expected,'' Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant told reporters. "I shouldn't say they didn't expect it, because after the Expansion Draft, when I seen the list of our team, I was pretty impressed." James Neal has been the kingpin in Vegas' success with team highs of six goals and eight points in the club's first six games. St. Louis made it six victories in eight contests this season by beginning its road trip with a 4-3 victory in Colorado on Thursday as Paul Stastny recorded a goal for his 600th career point and added an assist. Blues forward Jaden Schwartz is off to a splendid start with a team-most six goals, including four in the last two games - both victories.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Las Vegas)
ABOUT THE BLUES (6-2-0): Vladimir Tarasenko (five goals) has a four-game point streak (two goals, three assists) while defenseman Alex Pietrangelo recorded two assists Thursday, giving him 10 points - second on the team to Schwartz's 12. Rookie defenseman Vince Dunn registered his second goal in eight games Thursday as all six blueliners on the roster have scored this season, totaling nine. Defenseman Colton Parayko missed most of the third period Thursday after blocking a shot with his hand, but is expected to play Saturday.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (5-1-0): Backup goaltender Malcolm Subban, brother of Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban, has performed admirably since No. 1 Marc-Andre Fleury went on injured reserve (concussion) with two wins in two games. Rookie right wing Alex Tuch has scored in his first two career games, taking advantage of the opportunity presented to him when Erik Haula and Jonathan Marchessault (lower-body injuries) were placed on IR. Oscar Lindberg (three goals) has scored in the last two contests while David Perron (two goals) provided the overtime winner Tuesday and is second on the team with five points.
OVERTIME
2. St. Louis D Jay Bouwmeester hasn't played yet this season because of a left ankle injury, and will be re-evaluated next week. Bouwmeester played in 737 consecutive games - the sixth-longest streak in NHL history - from 2004-14.
3. Vegas is 2-for-26 on the power play this season while the Blues are 5-for-31, including 0-for-10 in their last three games.
3. St. Louis LW Sammy Blais recorded his career point Thursday - an assist - in his third game.