Coyotes at Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights hope to avoid registering the longest losing streak in the club’s first season of existence when they host the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday night. The Golden Knights have dropped three in a row for the second time after a 7-4 setback at Winnipeg on Friday and attempt to continue their strong work at home where they are 9-2-0, including a 5-2 victory against Arizona on Oct. 10.
Vegas coach Gerard Gallant told reporters his team only played well in spurts Friday and rookie forward Alex Tuch said the forechecking has to be better: “It has to be a connected unit. That’s what made us so successful at the beginning of the season.” The Golden Knights have given up 14 goals during their losing streak but can record a fourth straight victory against Arizona, which snapped a three-game slide with a convincing 5-0 victory over red-hot New Jersey on Saturday. Veteran center Derek Stepan notched a goal and an assist and former third-overall pick Dylan Strome scored for the first time in the NHL as the Coyotes improved to 5-3-1 over their last nine contests to climb out of the bottom spot in the league. Scott Wedgewood made 27 saves for the shutout Saturday, but No. 1 goalie Antti Raanta (upper-body) is close to returning for Arizona.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Vegas)
ABOUT THE COYOTES (7-18-4): Stepan moved within one point of defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (18) for second on the team with his productive night while forward Jordan Martinook scored for the first time since Oct. 30. Rookie center Clayton Keller still leads Arizona with 22 points after recording an assist Saturday, but extended his goal drought to 13 contests. Strome had one assist in 11 NHL games before scoring against the Devils and has registered two shots on goal in each of three games since being recalled from Tucson of the American Hockey League.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (15-9-1): Forward William Karlsson had another goal Friday to give him 10 to go along with four assists over the last 10 contests, and leads the team in tallies (14) and points (24). Jonathan Marchessault has been almost as hot as Karlsson with 13 points in his last eight games to bring his total to 23 - three more than fellow forward Reilly Smith for second on the team. Defenseman Deryk Engelland missed the game against Winnipeg and is considered day-to-day after appearing to be hit on the hand with shot Thursday against Minnesota.
OVERTIME
1. Vegas LW David Perron has 11 points in his last nine contests and needs three to reach 400 in his career.
2. Arizona F Zac Rinaldo had an assist Saturday and his next game will be the 300th of his NHL career.
3. The Golden Knights are 0-for-10 on the power play over the last three games, and sat 17th in the league entering Saturday (18.7 percent).