Golden Knights Gameday

Golden Knights Game 44, Playoff Implications; Lines, Notes & How to Watch vs. Hurricanes

Published

4 weeks ago

January 17, 2025

The Vegas Golden Knights (29-12-3) are now tied for 1st in the Pacific Division after Edmonton’s comeback win last night over the Colorado Avalanche. The Golden Knights still have a game in hand, adding importance to tonight’s matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Lenovo Center.

The puck will drop just after 4 p.m.

The Golden Knights got off to a slow start in their last game on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators, and it cost them. After going down four-nothing, the Golden Knights mounted a comeback, led by Pavel Dorofeyev’s natural hat trick– the first hat trick of his career– but fell short and lost 5-3.

Carolina got off to an equally slow start in their last game against the Buffalo Sabres. The Hurricanes allowed a goal against just 48 seconds into the first period, and by the time they found their game in the third period, they were down 3-0. They, too, mounted a comeback; they, too, fell just short. The Sabres became the first team to score a goal in a full 20-minute period without registering a shot on goal, and the Hurricanes lost 4-2.

Ilya Samsonov started the last game against the Predators, and since he and Adin Hill have been splitting starts fairly evenly, I’d expect to see Hill on the mound tonight.

Frederik Andersen was activated from Injured Reserve, but the Golden Knights will face Pyotr Kocketkov and his .901 save percentage.

Cole Schwindt draws back into the lineup. Alexander Holtz will be a healthy scratch.

Golden Knights Lines

Ivan Barbashev-Jack Eichel-Mark Stone
Victor Olofsson-Tomas Hertl-Pavel Dorofeyev
Brett Howden-William Karlsson-Cole Schwindt
Tanner Pearson-Nicolas Roy-Keegan Kolesar

Defense

Noah Hanifin-Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb-Shea Theodore
Nicolas Hague-Zach Whitecloud

Goaltenders: Adin Hill (likely)/Ilya Samsonov

Hurricanes Lines

Andrei Svechnikov-Sabastian Aho-Jackson Blake
Eric Robinson-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Martin Necas
Jordan Martinook-Jordan Staal-Seth Jarvis
Juha Jaaska-Jack Drury-Jack Roslovic

Defense

Jaccob Slavin-Brent Burns
Dmitry Orlov-Jalen Chatfield
Shayne Gostisbehere-Sean Walker

Goalie: Pyotr Kochetkov

Special Teams

Golden Knights power play: 26.2%, 4th. Golden Knights Penalty Kill: 78.0%, 21st.

Hurricanes power play: 22.3%, 13th. Hurricanes penalty kill: 85.1%, 2nd.

Golden Knights Game Notes

The Golden Knights are 5-5-3 against the Hurricanes all-time but are currently riding a three-game losing streak. Their last meeting was a 5-2 loss at home.

The Golden Knights have a record of 11-6-3 on the road this season, while the Carolina Hurricanes are 17-5-1 at home.

Jack Eichel has 10 goals and five assists in 17 career games against the Hurricanes. Shea Theodore, third on the team in scoring, has 4-5-9 in 12 career games against the Hurricanes.

Adin Hill is 1-3-0 with a .883 save percentage in five career games against Carolina.