Live coverage: Golden Knights host Tampa Bay seeking to extend Pacific Division lead

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golden knights lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning center Conor Geekie (14) hooks Vegas Golden Knights left wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) for a penalty during the third period Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. Photo by Chris O'Meara / AP

By Jack Williams (contact)

Sunday, March 23, 2025 | 4:31 p.m.

The Vegas Golden Knights welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, aiming to secure back-to-back victories and strengthen their position atop the Pacific Division.

Tomas Hertl recorded a hat trick in just two periods during Saturday’s 6-3 victory over Detroit. It marked the third consecutive home game featuring a Golden Knights player netting three goals.

Hertl’s excellence extends well beyond this single game.

Since January, he leads the NHL with 20 goals across 32 games, including another hat trick against the Kings on March 23.

Tonight’s matchup is the first meeting between these teams since October 17, when Vegas suffered a 4-3 defeat in Tampa. The Golden Knights held a 3-2 advantage late in the third period before surrendering two goals in the final four minutes.

Players to watch

Golden Knights: Tomas Hertl (center) 69 games played, 30 goals, 28 assists, 58 points; Pavel Dorofeyev (forward) 69 games played, 30 goals, 16 assists, 46 points; Jack Eichel (center) 68 games played, 22 goals, 64 assists, 86 points.

Tampa Bay: Nikita Kucherov (forward) 65 games played, 29 goals, 68 assists, 97 points; Brandon Hagel (forward) 69 games played, 32 goals, 44 assists, 76 points; Brayden Point (center) 64 games played, 34 goals, 34 assists, 68 points.