Golden Knights at Red Wings

The Vegas Golden Knights have dropped four of their last five (1-3-1) to take a sliver of the luster off their impressive inaugural season. The Golden Knights look to return to their winning ways and prevent a season sweep at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday when the clubs meet at Little Caesars Arena.

Erik Haula is in the midst of a career year with Vegas, as he increased his personal-best total in goals (24) and points (46) with his second-period tally in Tuesday's 4-1 setback at Columbus. The 26-year-old Finn has nine points (three goals, six assists) in his past 10 games overall and scored in the first encounter versus Detroit as the expansion Golden Knights sustained their first loss in a 6-3 setback on Oct. 13. Anthony Mantha collected two goals and two assists for his first career four-point performance during Tuesday's 6-5 defeat in Boston, marking Detroit's fourth straight loss to cap a five-game road trip. The reeling Red Wings' return home will be brief as they embark on another five-game road trek after Thursday's tilt.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, AT&T Sportsnet-Rocky Mountains (Vegas), FS Detroit

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (42-19-5): Vegas paid a steep price in acquiring Tomas Tatar from Detroit prior to the trade deadline, but coach Gerard Gallant and company believe it's the right one as the team keeps an eye on the postseason. A three-time 20-goal scorer, Tatar tallied in Sunday's 3-2 victory at New Jersey for his lone point in four games since being acquired from the Red Wings for the Golden Knights' 2018 first-round pick, 2019 second-round pick and 2021 third-round pick. Marc-Andre Fleury aims to atone after surrendering a season-high six goals on 27 shots in the first encounter versus Detroit.

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (26-29-11): Mantha (team-best 23 goals) has meshed well with fellow young star Dylan Larkin (club-high 40 assists, 49 points) to provide reason for optimism in Motown. "We've seen that throughout the year. They're young, they're really skilled and that's our future, just got to develop more and play a full 200-foot game," captain Henrik Zetterberg said of the 23-year-old Mantha and 21-year-old Larkin. As for Zetterberg, the 37-year-old Swede has an assist in two of his last three outings overall and recorded a four-point performance (one goal, three assists) in his previous encounter versus Vegas.

OVERTIME

1. Detroit C Gustav Nyquist had two goals and an assist in the first meeting with Vegas, but has just two points (both assists) in his last eight games overall.

2. The regulation loss to the Red Wings is one of just four sustained by the Golden Knights against Atlantic Division foes this season.

3. Detroit recalled prospect Evgeny Svechnikov from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League on Wednesday after fellow F Frans Nielsen suffered an upper-body injury versus the Bruins.
Poll

Who will win this game?

Odds
SpreadMoneylineMoneyTotal
Detroit Red WingsRed Wings+1 12  -240125
4.50
o -145u 105
Vegas Golden KnightsGolden Knights-1 12  200-138
Moneyline Consensus: Detroit Red Wings: 0%     Vegas Golden Knights: 0%
Vegas Prediction: Detroit: 2 (Loss)    Vegas: 3 (Win)
Season Series
Oct 13th 2017 Detroit 6 @ Vegas 3
DetroitStatsVegas
1-1-0Vs1-1-0
6Goals7
10.9Shot %11.9
0.0Power Play %0.0
51.5Faceoff %48.5