Game day: Golden Knights host Blackhawks, look to avoid a season sweep

Vegas Golden Knights left wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) controls the puck with pressure from Los Angeles Kings left wing Trevor Moore (12) during the third period in Los Angeles, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Photo by Alex Gallardo / AP

Coming off a 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, the Vegas Golden Knights are looking to bounce back at 7 p.m. today at home against the Chicago Blackhawks. 

In their last meeting on Jan. 18 in Chicago, the Golden Knights struggled out of the gate, falling into a 3-1 hole in the first period.

They tied the game but could not keep the puck out of the net, falling 5-3. Vegas had four power plays in that game but only converted once.

Vegas is is 0-for-5 on the power play in its last two games, and all five of those power plays came in the first period.

The loss against the Kings created some frustration, as Vegas allowed four goals in the third period.

Coach Bruce Cassidy referred to the third-period effort as "losing hockey," and defenseman Brayden McNabb said the losing "needed to stop." 

Since the beginning of the year, the Golden Knights have gone 9-9-3 and have had two four-game losing streaks.

While a .500 record isn't awful, it doesn't look great compared to December, when Vegas posted a 10-2-0 record.

The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are in a worse place than Vegas. They are 31st in the league standings and on their sixth four-game losing streak of the season.

Players to watch

Golden Knights: Pavel Dorofeyev (forward) 58 games played, 23 goals, 13 assists, 36 points; Mark Stone (forward) 44 games played, 15 goals, 35 assists, 50 points; Jack Eichel (center) 57 games played, 19 goals, 50 assists, 69 points. 

Chicago: Connor Bedard (center) 58 games played, 16 goals, 33 assists, 49 points; Teuvo Teravainen (center) 58 games played, 13 goals, 29 assists, 42 points; Seth Jones (defense) 41 games played, 7 goals, 20 assists, 27 points. 

Nonactive players

Golden Knights: Cole Schwindt (lower body), William Karlsson (lower body), Shea Theodore (arm) 

Chicago: Jason Dickinson (ankle), Laurent Brossoit (knee)

How to watch

TV: Scripps Sports (Cox Communications, channel 34). KnightTime+ (streaming), ESPN+ (streaming). 

Betting line

Golden Knights -410 Chicago +320. Over/under 5.5 (-142/+120)

Who is in goal

Golden Knights: Ilya Samsonov - 23 games played, 13-8-2 record, 2.95 goals against average, .891 save percentage, 1 shutout. 

Chicago: Petr Mrazek - 31 games played, 10-19-2 record, 3.33 goals against average, .893 save percentage.