Golden Knights Gameday: Pacioretty on a Tear

The Vegas Golden Knights wrap up a four-game home stand to open the season as they host the Arizona Coyotes tonight at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas is looking for its fourth straight win to open the season for the first time in franchise history.

Vegas Golden Knights 3-0-0 vs. Arizona Coyotes 1-1-1

Tonight’s game is the second of four straight against the Coyotes, with the next two games coming on the road in Glendale, Arizona. Last time out the Coyotes built a 2-0 lead on goals by Tyler Pitlick and Nick Schmaltz before the Golden Knights came back with four unanswered goals for the win. Reilly Smith led the way with his first two goals of the season while Chandler Stephenson (1) and Max Pacioretty (3) also scored in the win.

Robin Lehner earned the win with 30 saves while Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves in the loss.

Monday’s game against Arizona featured a return to the traditional six defenseman in the lineup for Vegas. The first two games of the season the team had dressed only five and 13 forwards. Monday, forward Cody Glass was held out in favor of Nic Hague getting into the lineup. Things seemed to stabilize as the game wore on for both the forwards and defense. Hopefully that trend continues this evening.

Keep an Eye On

VGK – Max Pacioretty has a goal in every game so far this season, and it’s good to see him off to a flying start. In fact, that line has been on fire to kick off the season. Mark Stone has four assists and five points in the first three games, and Chandler Stephenson (1-2-3) has been chipping in as well. Look for them to keep the momentum going tonight.

ARI – Jakob Chychrun has a point in three straight games (1-3-4) and leads the team in points. Expect the defense to continue to work to generate scoring opportunities for the Coyotes forwards.

Notes:

VGK

• Reilly Smith and William Karlsson each need just one assist to record 100 helpers with the Vegas Golden Knights.
• If Pacioretty scores again tonight, he will become the second VGK player to score in four straight games to open the season joining James Neal. Neal scored in the first four games of Vegas Golden Knights franchise history in 2017.
• With a win tonight Vegas will win four in a row to start the season for the first time in franchise history.
• Stone (1-4-5) and Pacioretty (3-0-3) carry three game point streaks into tonight.

ARI

• The Coyotes were the NHL’s least penalized team last season with 454 PIMs but handed the Golden Knights five power play chances on Monday.
• Phil Kessel notched three goals in the first two games, but was held off the score sheet Monday. Kessel finished the game a team-worst minus-3 along with Christian Dvorak.
• Five of the 10 goals Arizona has allowed this season have been scored in the third period.
• Derek Brassard recorded his 300th NHL assist on Monday night.
• Tyler Pitlick’s goal Monday night was his first career shorthanded goal and and first goal as a Coyote.