Senators at Golden Knights
The expansion Vegas Golden Knights still own a comfortable lead atop the Pacific Division, but they no longer have sole possession of the best record in the Western Conference. The Golden Knights will look to avoid their longest losing streak since dropping three in a row from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 when they host the Ottawa Senators on Friday night.
Vegas will try to rebound after losing a home-and-home to the division-rival Los Angeles Kings on consecutive nights, including a 4-1 setback at home on the back end Tuesday night. William Karlsson continued his breakout season by scoring his fourth goal in four games, giving him 34 overall and 21 in 32 games at T-Mobile Arena. Karlsson also had a goal and an assist on Nov. 4 in a 5-4 win at Ottawa, which will arrive in Las Vegas riding a five-game losing streak. The skidding Senators, who are one point out of the basement in the Atlantic Division, opened a four-game road trip with a 3-2 loss at Washington on Tuesday.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, RDS2, TSN5 (Ottawa), AT&T Sportsnet-Rocky Mountain (Vegas)
ABOUT THE SENATORS (21-31-10): Alex Burrows will return to the lineup for the first time in nearly a month after serving a 10-game suspension for kneeing New Jersey's Taylor Hall in the head. “Obviously, I messed up on that one. I let the emotions get the best of me," Burrows said. "I’ve put it behind me I’m looking forward to getting back into the lineup and helping the guys win some games.” Captain Erik Karlsson, the subject of rampant trade speculation, ended up staying put and had a goal and an assist versus Washington on Tuesday.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (41-17-5): Vegas acquired rugged forward Ryan Reaves to supply a physical presence, but he picked up two third-period penalties that led to a power-play goal in Tuesday's loss. Reaves was irate at the calls, which he acknowledged cost the team, but vowed "not to apologize" for the penalites -- not that coach Gerard Gallant wanted one. “He came in and apologized after the game," Gallant said: "I said, ‘Don’t worry about it. It’s not your fault. You played hard. You played the way we want you to play.’”
OVERTIME
1. Vegas F Reilly Smith was named the NHL's Third Star of the Month after collecting 20 points in 14 games.
2. Senators F Marian Gaborik will miss Thursday's game due to an undisclosed injury.
3. F Tomas Tatar, acquired from Detroit at the trade deadline, had four shots on goal in his Vegas debut.