Golden Knights hosting Panthers in battle of recent Cup champions

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud (2) fights with Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game at T-Mobile Arena Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. Photo by Steve Marcus

It’s a rematch of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final and a showdown between the last two NHL champions as the Vegas Golden Knights host the Florida Panthers at 5 p.m. 

Over the past two seasons, the Golden Knights have defeated the Panthers four times at T-Mobile Arena, including a 9-3 victory in the series-clinching game of the Stanley Cup Finals in 2023.

The Golden Knights have lost three in a row to Florida dating back to last season. 

Despite snapping a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, the Golden Knights are struggling to string wins together. They lost to the Dallas Stars on Friday, 3-2. They have not won back-to-back games since Jan. 7. 

This losing streak is similar to the one Vegas had during the 2022-23 season, when it lost eight of 10 games from Jan. 7 to Jan. 28. It went on to win the Stanley Cup that season. 

Florida defeated the San Jose Sharks, 7-2, on Saturday, scoring all seven goals in just two periods. Four players had multi-point games, and the Panthers took just one penalty. 

A win over Vegas would move the Panthers into the top spot in the Atlantic Division, past Toronto. If the Golden Knights win, they will move into the top spot in the Pacific Division, surpassing Edmonton. 

Players to watch

Golden Knights: Pavel Dorofeyev (forward) 49 games played, 21 goals, 10 assists, 31 points; Tomas Hertl (center) 49 games played, 17 goals, 21 assists, 38 points; Jack Eichel (center) 48 games played, 14 goals, 47 assists, 61 points. 

Florida: Sam Reinhart (center) 50 games played, 29 goals, 24 assists, 53 points; Matthew Tkachuk (forward) 45 games played, 15 goals, 29 assists, 44 points; Aleksander Barkov (forward) 40 games played, 11 goals, 30 assists, 41 points. 

Non-active players

Golden Knights: Cole Schwindt (lower body), William Karlsson (lower body). 

Florida: Jonah Gadjovich (upper body) 

How to watch

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

Betting line

Golden Knights -130 Florida +110. Over/under 5.5 (-130/+110) 

Who is goal

Golden Knights: Adin Hill - 30 games played, 18-9-3 record, 2.65 goals against average, .900 save percentage, 2 shutouts. 

Florida: TBD