GOLDEN KNIGHTS (24-9-2) at KINGS (22-11-4) 10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NHL.TV
The Golden Knights have 50 points, one more than the Nashville Predators and two more than the Kings, who are second in the Pacific Division. Vegas has a point in 10 consecutive games (9-0-1). The Kings will play their first game since a 2-0 loss at the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 23, but they have won five in a row at home.
Players to watch
Golden Knights center Jonathan Marchessault has two goals and five assists during a four-game point streak, and leads Vegas with 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 32 games. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is 8-3-0 and has allowed 21 goals in his past 11 games. In his only game against the Golden Knights, he allowed three goals on nine shots and was pulled 11:22 into the first period in a 4-2 loss Nov. 19.
They said it
"Our guys got pride. They want to win every night, they want to compete, and they know they don't play their best hockey they're not going to win." -- Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant "No one is surprised by them. No one goes in there and they're like, 'Oh, it's a team of third- and fourth-liners,' because those third- and fourth-liner guys are some of the hardest guys to play against because they are so relentless." -- Kings defenseman Drew Doughty on the Golden Knights
Pearson, who has one point, an assist, in his past six games, was shifted to the top line with Kopitar and Brown. … Gravel will make his season debut after being recalled from Ontario of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. He has seven points (one goal, six assists) in 54 NHL games during the previous two seasons.
Stat pack
Fleury is 3-0-1 since returning from a 25-game absence because of a concussion. … The Kings are 2-for-24 on the power play in 11 games in December.
