Golden Knights Game 59, Lineup Changes; Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs Blackhawks

The Vegas Golden Knights (34-18-6) kick off a five-game homestand tonight. It’ll be nearly two weeks before they’re on the road again. The Golden Knights face the struggling Chicago Blackhawks (17-34-7) tonight at T-Mobile Arena. 

The puck drops just after 7 p.m.

The Golden Knights are coming off of a deflating loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. They overcame a sleepy start and controlled play in the second period but allowed four goals unanswered in the third and fell 5-2. 

The Chicago Blackhawks are on a four-game losing streak and have lost seven of their last eight. They’ve scored just four goals over their past three games and allowed eighteen goals against in their last four. 

Ilya Samsonov starts in net for the Golden Knights. He has a record of 1-2-2 and an average save percentage of .858 in five career games against the Blackhawks.

Petr Mrázek starts opposite Samsonov. He has a record of 5-3-0 and an average save percentage of .911 in eight career games against the Golden Knights.

Golden Knights Lines

Brandon Saad-Jack Eichel-Mark Stone
Pavel Dorofeyev-Tomáš Hertl-Victor Olofsson
Ivan Barbashev-Brett Howden-Keegan Kolesar
Tanner Pearson-Nicolas Roy-Raphaël Lavoie

Defense

Nicolas Hague-Alex Pietrangelo
Noah Hanifin-Zach Whitecloud
Brayden McNabb-Kaedan Korczak

Goaltender: Ilya Samsonov

Projected Blackhawks Lines

Tyler Bertuzzi-Connor Bedard-Ryan Donato
Teuvo Teräväinen-Nick Foligno-Ilya Mikheyev
Landon Slaggert-Frank Nazar-Colton Dach
Pat Maroon-Philipp Kurashev-Craig Smith

Defense

Alec Martinez-Seth Jones
Alex Vlasic-Connor Murphy
Ethan Del Mastro-TJ Brodie

Goaltender: Petr Mrázek

Special Teams

Golden Knights power play: 27.0%, tied for 5th. Golden Knights penalty kill:76.9%, 21st.
Blackhawks power play: 25.6%, 6th. Blackhawks penalty kill: 81.8%, tied for 6th.

Game Notes

Tonight’s matchup will be the second meeting between the Golden Knights and the Blackhawks this season. The Blackhawks took the first by a score of 5-3 on the back of a two-goal game from Tyler Bertuzzi.

Blackhawks defenseman Alec Martinez spent five years with the Golden Knights and won the Stanley Cup with them in 2023.

The Chicago Blackhawks drafted Golden Knights winger Brandon Saad. He spent seven years in Chicago and won two Stanley Cups there.

Jack Eichel is riding a five-game point streak against the Blackhawks. 

Tanner Pearson will skate in his 700th career NHL game tonight.

The Golden Knights are 20-6-3 at the Fortress this season, while the Blackhawks are 6-19-4 on the road.

How to Watch

TV: Vegas 34
Radio: FOX Sports Las Vegas 98.9/1340