Game day: Golden Knights kick off road trip against Penguins

Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl, right, celebrates with center Ivan Barbashev (49) after scoring a hat trick goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena Sunday, March 9, 2025. Photo by Steve Marcus

The Vegas Golden Knights open up an important four-game road trip today in Pittsburgh, taking on the Penguins at 4 p.m.

The Golden Knights have won seven of their last 10 games, with both losses coming against the Los Angeles Kings.

While Vegas has a four-point lead for first place in the Pacific Division, a successful run on the road could extend their lead and possibly lock up a playoff spot. Over this four-game stretch, Vegas will face two teams battling to get into the playoffs in the East: Columbus and Detroit.

The Blue Jackets have a two-point lead for the final wild-card spot, while the Red Wings are four points behind Columbus. The Golden Knights lost to the Blue Jackets earlier this season, 2-1 in overtime on Jan. 30.

The Golden Knights beat the Penguins 4-0 in their last meeting on Friday in Las Vegas.

Golden Knights goalie Ilya Samsonov earned his second shutout of the season, making 22 saves, and Mark Stone had three points. Samsonov will start again tonight.

Pittsburgh comes into today’s game recently snapping a four-game losing streak, defeating the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Sunday. Despite the win, the Penguins are 10 points outside of a playoff spot.

Players to watch

Golden Knights: Tomas Hertl (center) 63 games played, 27 goals, 25 assists, 52 points; Jack Eichel (center) 62 games played, 20 points, 57 assists, 77 points; Mark Stone (forward) 49 games played, 17 goals, 39 assists, 56 points. 

Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby (center) 64 games played, 21 goals, 47 assists, 68 points; Rickard Rakell (forward) 65 games played, 29 goals, 25 assists, 54 points; Bryan Rust (forward) 55 games played, 21 goals, 26 assists, 47 points. 

Non-active players

Golden Knights: William Karlsson (lower body), Shea Theodore (arm), Raphael Lavoie (upper body). 

Penguins: Ryan Shea (upper body), Tommy Novak (lower body), Pierre-Olivier Joseph (upper body) 

How to watch

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

Betting line

Golden Knights -192 Pittsburgh +160. Over/under 6.5 (+105/-125) 

Who is in goal

Golden Knights: Ilya Samsonov - 25 games played, 15-8-2 record, 2.91 goals against average, .891 save percentage, 2 shutouts. 

Pittsburgh: Tristan Jarry - 21 games played, 9-8-4 record, 3.20 goals against average, .888 save percentage.