Morning Skate Report: Jan. 6, 2022
Golden Knights wrap up series with Rangers
By
Gordon Weigers
VegasGoldenKnights.com
NOTES
Thursday's game marks the returns of former Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves and former head coach Gerard Gallant to T-Mobile Arena.
The Rangers are making their first visit to T-Mobile Arena since Dec. 8, 2019.
Vegas is playing its fourth consecutive home game Thursday night.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: FOX Sports 98.9/1340
PRIDE KNIGHT
The team will host PRIDE Knight in conjunction with the NHL's You Can Play initiative when they host the New York Rangers on January 6 at 7 p.m. PT. You Can Play is a campaign that ensures equality and respect to all athletes without regard to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
To celebrate, the Golden Knights will wear exclusive warmup jerseys that will be signed and bundled with locker room nameplates and will be available for purchase through an online auction. A limited number of sticks will also be included. To participate, fans can visit YouCanPlay.givesmart.com or text "YouCanPlay" to 76278. The auction will begin at 5:45 p.m. PT and conclude at the 10-minute mark of the third period. A portion of the proceeds from the jersey auction will benefit The Center. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from the sticks will benefit the You Can Play Project. Following the beginning of the game, a select number of warmup pucks will be available for sale outside of section 11 at T-Mobile Arena. Special merchandise for PRIDE Knight, including an all-new crew sweatshirt, is available for purchase at The Arsenal.
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Knights fell for the second game in a row as they dropped a 3-2 decision to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena. After Nashville opened a 3-0 lead, William Karlsson and Shea Theodore scored to close the gap to 3-2. The comeback bid fell short as the Golden Knights dropped the first start of Logan Thompson's NHL career.
OPPOSITION UPDATE
Recent success has vaulted the Rangers to the top of the Metropolitan Division standings with 48 points and a 22-8-4 record. New York has won three games in a row including consecutive wins against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ryan Strome posted three points (1G, 2A) in the team's last game - a 4-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers. Thursday's game is the first of a five-game road trip for the Rangers.
Artemi Panarin is the top scorer for the Rangers with 36 points (10G, 26A) in 31 games, but he entered COVID-19 protocol on Jan. 2. Defenseman Adam Fox ranks second on the team with 35 points (5G, 30A) from New York's back end. Forward Chris Kreider ranks third on the team in points with 31 and paces the club in goals with 20 tallies.
SEASON SERIES
Vegas picked up a 3-2 shootout win against the Rangers on Dec. 17 at Madison Square Garden in the first of two contests between the clubs this season. Brett Howden led the way for the Golden Knights with a pair of points (1G, 1A) against his former team while Laurent Brossoit made 27 saves and three more in the shootout for the win. Vegas trailed, 2-1, in the third period of that game before Dylan Coghlan found the back of the net with 5:16 left to tie the game.
VGK SCORING LEADERS
Chandler Stephenson - 34 points (10G, 24A)
Reilly Smith - 26 points (11G, 15A)
Shea Theodore - 25 points (7G, 18A)
Jonathan Marchessault - 24 points (16G, 8A)
Mark Stone - 23 points (6G, 17A)
Alex Pietrangelo - 23 points (5G, 18A)
Max Pacioretty - 21 points (12G, 9A)
A VEGAS VICTORY WOULD…
- Mark the 196th win in franchise history
- Give the Golden Knights a season sweep of the Rangers (2-0-0)
KEYS TO THE GAME
Shot Quality: Despite having one of the top records in the NHL, the Rangers rank 29th in shots per game at 28.4. While New York doesn't pile up as many shots as Vegas (34.3 shots/game), the Rangers use shot selection to their advantage.
Offensive Effort:The Golden Knights have the longest streak in the NHL of scoring two-or-more goals in a game as they've done it 27 times in a row. Vegas will need to keep that streak alive against a Rangers team that has scored four goals in each of its last three outings.
