Game day: Golden Knights face Kings for first time since October 

Vegas Golden Knights left wing Brandon Saad (20) and goaltender Adin Hill (33) celebrate after their team defeated the Vancouver Canucks in an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Las Vegas. Photo by John Locher/AP

The Vegas Golden Knights travel to Los Angeles to face their Pacific Division foe, the Kings, for the first time since October at 7:30 p.m. today.

This is the latest the Golden Knights have played their third meeting against the Kings in an 82-game season since 2017-18.

Vegas played the Kings only three times last year but had wrapped up the season series by late December.  

Both teams are in different places since their last meeting on Oct. 30, when the Golden Knights lost 6-3 in Los Angeles.

It was Vegas' 11th game, and they still had not won on the road. The win also put the Kings one point behind the Golden Knights in the divisional standings. 

Nearly four months later, the Golden Knights are riding a three-game winning streak, most recently defeating the Vancouver Canucks, 3-1, at home on Saturday in their first game since the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

Ivan Barbashev scored for the first time since December and Brandon Saad netted the game-winning goal, his first inside the Fortress.

The break couldn't have come at a better time for Vegas, as it returns to the ice with three players who had been nursing injuries: Alex Pietrangelo, Victor Olofsson and Tanner Pearson.

Vegas is also consistently winning for the first time since early January.

In October, the Kings were on the cusp of passing the Golden Knights for the Pacific Division lead. Now, they are in third place.

Los Angeles is five points behind second-place Edmonton and four points ahead of fourth-place Vancouver.

The Kings have made the playoffs for three straight seasons, but they have lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round each time.

They won their first game since the 4 Nations Face-Off break, defeating the Utah Hockey Club 5-3 on Saturday.

This will also be the first time defenseman Drew Doughty faces the Golden Knights since he broke his left ankle in a preseason game against the Golden Knights on Sept. 25 in Las Vegas. He missed 47 games due to the injury.