Golden Knights Game 52; Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs Blue Jackets

The Vegas Golden Knights (31-15-5) are struggling with consistency and haven’t managed to string together consecutive wins in weeks. They’re 6-6-2 in January. They’ll host the Columbus Blue Jackets (24-19-7) tonight at T-Mobile Arena.

The puck drops just after 7 p.m.

The Golden Knights finish up their three-game homestand tonight and are 1-0-1 so far. Adin Hill gave them excellent goaltending on Sunday to beat the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers. They lost on Tuesday to the Dallas Stars in overtime despite multi-point efforts from Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Pavel Dorofeyev.

The Blue Jackets enter tonight’s game outside of the playoff picture, but a win would move them to the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. They’re 2-2-1 in their last five games and beat the Los Angeles Kings at home in overtime on Saturday. They’ve been off since.

Ilya Samsonov was the first goalie off at morning skate. He’ll make his first start since January 23rd. Samsonov has a record of 4-1-2 and an average save percentage of .893 in seven career games against the Blue Jackets.

Elvis Merzlikins will start in net for the Blue Jackets. Merzlikins has a record of 2-1-0 and an average save percentage of .921 in three career games against the Golden Knights.

Cal Burke has been recalled from the Henderson Silver Knights. It appears that he’ll slot in tonight in place of Jonas Røndbjerg. If so, tonight’s game will be the 10th of Burke’s career. He’s played six games this season for the Golden Knights and has scored a goal.

Golden Knights Lines

Ivan Barbashev–Jack Eichel–Mark Stone

Victor Olofsson–Tomáš Hertl–Pavel Dorofeyev

Raphaël Lavoie–Nicolas Roy–Keegan Kolesar

Tanner Pearson–Brett Howden–Cal Burke

Defense

Noah Hanifin–Alex Pietrangelo

Brayden McNabb–Shea Theodore

Nicolas Hague–Zach Whitecloud

Goalie: Ilya Samsonov

Projected Blue Jackets Lines

Dmitri Voronkov–Adam Fantilli–Kirill Marchenko

James van Riemsdyk–Cole Sillinger–Kent Johnson

Zach Aston-Reese–Luca Del Bel Belluz–Mathieu Olivier

Mikael Pyyhtiä–Sean Kuraly–Justin Danforth

Defense

Zach Werenski–Dante Fabbro

Denton Mateychuk–Ivan Provorov

Jake Christiansen–Damon Severson

Goalie: Elvis Merzlikins

Special Teams

Golden Knights power play: 28.3%, 3rd. Golden Knights penalty kill: 78.2%, 19th.

Blue Jackets power play: 22.6%, 12th. Blue Jackets penalty kill: 74.8%, 26th.

Game Notes

The Golden Knights are 6-6-0 against the Blue Jackets all time. Tonight’s game will be their first meeting this season. They split the season series last year, 1-1.

Tomáš Hertl and Jack Eichel both currently have active point streaks. Eichel’s is an eight-game point streak (5-5-10); Hertl’s is a career-long ten (8-6-14).

Jack Eichel has 11 goals and 11 assists in 20 career games against the Blue Jackets.

Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski is one of the best in the league this season. He’s second among defensemen in goals (16), third among defensemen in points (54), and leads all defensemen in shots on goal (189). He leads the league in average ice time with 26:47. 

This season, the Golden Knights have a record of 19-6-2 at home; the Blue Jackets are 7-14-4 on the road.

How to Watch

TV: Vegas 34

Radio: FOX Sports Las Vegas 98.9/1340