Golden Knights Game 79, HERTL UPDATE; Lines Notes, & How to Watch vs Kraken

The Vegas Golden Knights (47-22-9) kick off a two-game homestand. These are their last two home games of the regular season; their final two games are on the road. On Thursday, they’ll host the Seattle Kraken (34-39-6) at T-Mobile Arena.

The puck drops just after 7 p.m.

The Golden Knights are back home after a three-game road trip during which they went to overtime twice. Their most recent game was on Tuesday in Colorado against the Avalanche. Despite being down Jack Eichel, Alex Pietrangelo, Nic Hague, and Tomáš Hertl, they took the Avalanche to overtime. Goaltender Akira Schmid was incredible in his second start of the season, but the Golden Knights ultimately fell 3-2 in the shootout.

The Kraken last played on Tuesday in Utah against the Hockey Club. The Hockey Club scored early and never took their foot off the gas, rolling to a 7-1 win. It’s been another tough year for the Kraken; since making the playoffs in their second season, they’ve missed for the second year in a row.

Adin Hill was the first goaltender off the ice, so he’ll get the start. Hill has a record of 3-2-1 and an average save percentage of .896 in six career games against the Kraken. 

The Kraken have not named a starting goaltender. Joey Daccord has a record of 2-1-0 and an average save percentage of .927 in three career games against the Golden Knights, including the first shutout in Winter Classic history. Victor Ostman has never recorded an NHL start.

Head coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned an illness bug after Tuesday’s game, and it seems to be working its way through the locker room. Jack Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo remain out, and Victor Olofsson is joining them. Tomáš Hertl draws back in.

Golden Knights Lines

Ivan Barbashev-Brett Howden-Mark Stone
Brandon Saad-Tomáš Hertl-Pavel Dorofeyev
Alexander Holtz-William Karlsson-Reilly Smith
Tanner Pearson-Nic Roy-Keegan Kolesar

Defense

Brayden McNabb-Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin-Zach Whitecloud
Ben Hutton-Kaedan Korczak

Goaltenders: Adin Hill/Akira Schmid

Kraken Lines

Jaden Schwartz-Chandler Stephenson-Jordan Eberle
Jared McCann-Shane Wright-Andre Burakovsky
Eeli Tolvanen-Matty Beniers-Kaapo Kakko
Mikey Eyssimont-John Hayden-Ryan Winterton

Defense

Vince Dunn-Adam Larsson
Ryker Evans-Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura-Jamie Oleksiak

Goaltenders: Joey Daccord/Victor Ostman

Special Teams

Golden Knights power play: 29.1%, 2nd. Golden Knights penalty kill: 76.1%, 24th.
Kraken power play: 18.3%, 25th. Kraken penalty kill: 77.3%, 21st.

Golden Knights Game Notes

This is the third and final time the Golden Knights face the Kraken this season. They are 1-0-1 against the Kraken this year and 11-2-1 all-time.

Tomáš Hertl will return to the lineup after missing the past nine games. On Wednesday, the Las Vegas Chapter of the PHWA announced Hertl as their nominee for the 2025 Bill Masterton Trophy.

On Tuesday, William Karlsson scored his second shorthanded goal of the season. It was the first shorthanded goal scored by the Golden Knights in 42 games.

Mark Stone has a goal and eight assists in six career games against the Kraken.

Reilly Smith has six goals and nine points in nine career games against the Kraken.

Chandler Stephenson, who spent five seasons with the Golden Knights, is second on the Kraken in scoring. He has a goal and two assists in seven career games against his former team.

Jaden Schwartz has eight goals and 17 points in 24 career games against the Golden Knights.

The Golden Knights have a record of 27-9-3 at the Fortress this season; the Kraken are 17-22-1 on the road.

How to Watch

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