Kings at Golden Knights
A day after posting a spirited victory, the Los Angeles Kings attempt to complete a sweep of the home-and-home series when they visit the Western Conference-leading Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. Los Angeles was on its way to finishing 0-3-0 on its homestand before rallying Monday for a 3-2 overtime triumph over Vegas.
Captain Anze Kopitar scored a goal and set up two others, including Dustin Brown's winner at 3:14 of the extra session, as the Kings overcame a 2-0 deficit in the third period and climbed into the second wild-card spot in the West. The Golden Knights, who are two points ahead of Nashville for first in the conference and 12 in front of San Jose in the Pacific Division, return to T-Mobile Arena following the only road game of a stretch during which they play nine of 10 at home. Vegas went 5-2-0 on a homestand that preceded Monday's setback, scoring a total of 13 goals in the last two contests - victories over Calgary and Vancouver. James Neal returned from a three-game absence because of illness and recorded an assist against the Kings before exiting in the second period with an undisclosed injury suffered on a hit by Jake Muzzin.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network
ABOUT THE KINGS (34-24-5): Kopitar's three-point performance Monday was his fifth of the season - first since Dec. 5 - and increased his team-leading total to 68 points. Jeff Carter, who was appearing in his second contest after missing 55 due to a torn tendon in his left ankle, scored his first goal of the campaign. Brown's goal Monday was his third in four games and his fourth winner of the season - his highest total since 2011-12, when he matched his career high with six.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (41-16-5): Ryan Reaves made his team debut in the opener of the home-and-home set after being acquired from Pittsburgh in a three-team trade Friday, registering four hits in 7 minutes, 12 seconds of ice time. Vegas hopes to showcase its newest member in the rematch, as it obtained Tomas Tatar from Detroit at Monday's trade deadline for three draft picks, including a first-rounder this year. Tatar, a 27-year-old left wing from Slovakia, recorded 16 goals and 12 assists in 62 games with the Red Wings - including an assist against the New York Rangers on Sunday in his swan song with the club.
OVERTIME
1. Golden Knights RW Reilly Smith (seven goals, 11 assists), who is three goals shy of 100 in the NHL, and C William Karlsson (six, six) have both landed on the scoresheet in 10 of their last 11 games.
2. Brown also notched an assist Monday, leaving him one away from 300 for his career.
3. Vegas acquired D Philip Holm from Vancouver for LW Brendan Leipsic and assigned him to Chicago of the American Hockey League.