Game day: Golden Knights return to play against Canucks 

Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl (48) shoots against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) during the second period Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. Photo by David Becker / AP

Hockey is back in Las Vegas for the first time in nearly a month as the Vegas Golden Knights host the Vancouver Canucks tonight at 7 p.m. 

This is the Golden Knights' first game since the 4 Nations Face-Off break, which lasted from Feb. 9 to Feb. 21. Mark Stone and Adin Hill competed for Canada, while Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin represented the United States. 

Canada defeated the United States, 3-2, in overtime of the championship game on Thursday. It's Stone and Hill's first time winning a championship with Canada in a best-on-best tournament. 

The break also benefited a handful of players that did not compete in the tournament. Alex Pietrangelo, Tanner Pearson and Victor Olofsson, who were dealing with injuries prior to the pause, are expected to return to the ice against Vancouver. 

The Golden Knights will be without defenseman Shea Theodore until at least March 2, as he sustained an arm injury in the first game of the 4 Nations Face-Off with Canada. 

William Karlsson, who has been out with an upper-body injury since Jan. 20, is skating individually but does not have a timeline for his recovery. 

Despite representing Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off, Hill will see his first action in two weeks against the Canucks. St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington started and played in every game for Canada. 

The Canucks will be short as well. Defenseman Quinn Hughes is out with an oblique injury, and Elias Pettersson is a game-time decision. 

Hughes was supposed to represent the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off but did not play due to injury. Pettersson sustained his injury from the tournament but still played all three of Sweden's games. 

Players to watch

Golden Knights: Jack Eichel (center) 55 games played, 19 goals, 50 assists, 69 points; Tomáš Hertl (center) 56 games played, 21 goals, 21 assists, 42 points; Mark Stone (forward) 42 games played, 14 goals, 35 assists, 49 points. 

Vancouver: Brock Boeser (forward) 48 games played, 18 goals, 17 assists, 35 points; Conor Garland (forward) 55 games played, 14 goals, 20 assists, 34 points; Jake DeBrusk (forward) 55 games played, 19 goals, 14 assists, 33 points. 

Non-active players

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

Vancouver: Noah Juulsen (undisclosed), Thatcher Demko (lower body), Elias Pettersson (undisclosed, game-time decision), Quinn Hughes (oblique)

How to watch

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

Betting line

Golden Knights -225 Vancouver +185. Over/under: 5.5 (+102/-122) 

Who is goal

Golden Knights: Adin Hill - 34 games played, 10-10-4 record, 2.64 goals against average, .901 save percentage, 2 shutouts. 

Vancouver: Kevin Lankinen - 34 games played, 19-8-7 record, 2.61 goals against average, .905 save percentage, 4 shutouts.