Canucks at Golden Knights
William Karlsson and the Vegas Golden Knights are in the midst of a fairy-tale season, with the former netting his second hat trick in 2017-18 to help the latter end a four-game home losing skid. Karlsson and the Golden Knights look to continue their good fortune on Tuesday when they face the visiting Vancouver Canucks, who have dropped six in a row.
"It's pretty incredible, something you dream about growing up. ... It's the second time now and it felt as great as the first time," Karlsson told the Las Vegas Review-Journal following Sunday's 4-0 win over Calgary. The 25-year-old Swede has 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in his past 13 games overall and five (three goals, two assists) in Vegas' decisive victories versus Vancouver this season. While the Golden Knights have won four of six to reside eight points ahead of San Jose atop the Pacific, the free-falling Canucks had been shut out in three straight contests before dropping a 5-3 decision to the Sharks on Saturday. Vancouver hasn't helped itself against Pacific Division foes, posting a 6-16-1 mark heading into Tuesday's tilt versus a club that boasts a sterling 17-3-2 record.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Vegas)
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (25-38-9): A promising start (14-10-4) gave way to harsh reality in short order for Vancouver, which has found itself officially eliminated from postseason consideration after posting just one regulation win in its last 13 outings (2-8-3). Daniel Sedin scored and set up a goal in the February tilt versus Vegas to ignite a nine-point performance (six goals, three assists) in a five-game stretch before being limited to just a pair of assists in his last seven. The 37-year-old Swede set up one of Vancouver's three man-advantage goals versus the Sharks after the team's seventh-ranked power play went 0-for-9 in its previous six games.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (46-21-5): While Karlsson (39 goals) has put himself in the conversation for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy for most goals this season, his 65 points have him one shy of David Perron and Jonathan Marchessault for the team lead. Perron isn't making it easy for Karlsson to catch up, as the former has six assists during his five-game point streak and 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in his past 13 contests overall. The 29-year-old Perron and Marchessault each scored and set up a goal in both Vegas' 5-2 over Vancouver on Nov. 16 and again in the 6-3 victory versus the Canucks on Feb. 23.
OVERTIME
1. Vegas G Marc-Andre Fleury, who turned aside all 42 shots he faced on Sunday to up his .945 save percentage in his past six starts, resides one win shy of surpassing Chris Osgood (401) for 12th place on the NHL's all-time list.
2. Vancouver captain Henrik Sedin has answered a five-game point streak by being held off the scoresheet in seven straight contests.
3. Golden Knights C Erik Haula has four goals and an assist in his last four games overall and owns one of each versus the Canucks this season.