Golden Knights at Canucks
The Vegas Golden Knights have shaken off their early-season malaise and are looking more like the team that barnstormed its way to the Stanley Cup Finals in the franchise's inaugural season. The surging Golden Knights look to make it five consecutive victories when they continue a three-game road trip at the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.
Vegas moved above the NHL's version of .500 for the first time this season following Tuesday's 8-3 romp in Chicago and has piled up 19 goals during the four-game winning streak. "I think we're getting better and better," Golden Knights forward Cody Eakin said. "We're hoping that we can maintain this level of play, the play that's allowed us to have success and wins moving forward." The Canucks were among the NHL's biggest surprises over the first five weeks, but they have come back to the pack with one win in the last 10 games (1-7-2). Vancouver was swept in the four-game season series by Vegas in 2017-18 but came away with a 3-2 shootout victory on the road in this season's first meeting on Oct. 24.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, AT&T-Sportsnet-Rocky Mountain (Las Vegas), Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (13-12-1): Despite a season-high goal total on Tuesday, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has sparked Vegas' turnaround by winning his last five starts. Fleury, named the league's Second Star of the Week after posting a pair of shutouts among three wins, has surrendered five goals over the past four games. ""My teammates have been helping a lot," Fleury said. "The forwards are coming back and cutting those cross-ice passes. The defense lets me see the puck and they take the rebounds away. Just little things have been making a difference defensively."
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (11-13-3): Vancouver halted an eight-game slide at Pacific Division cellar dweller Los Angeles on Saturday, but its offensive woes continued in a 2-1 overtime loss to the visiting Kings in Tuesday's rematch. The one positive for the Canucks was the return of forward Brock Boeser, a 29-goal scorer as a rookie last season who had missed the previous 11 games due to a groin injury. Rookie center Elias Pettersson has scored in three of the last six contests to boost his team-high total to 13 but he has only one assist over the past 10 games.
OVERTIME
1. Golden Knights F Alex Tuch has a four-game point streak, including a goal and an assist in three straight.
2. Canucks G Jacob Markstrom beat Vegas earlier this season after allowing 12 goals in three meetings in 2017-18.
3. Vegas F Max Pacioretty has six goals and three assists during a six-game point streak.