Golden Knights aim to become the first team to start 5-0-0 in Stanley Cup defense since 1985-86 Edmonton Oilers.
The Vegas Golden Knights look to become the first team since the 1985-86 Edmonton Oilers to start the season 5-0 after winning a Stanley Cup.
The Golden Knights play the Winnipeg Jets at 5 p.m. tonight at the Canada Life Centre.
Vegas eliminated the Jets last season 4-1 in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
“It’s pretty exiting coming back. Especially last year after how we played here in the playoffs,” said Manitoba native Brett Howden. “It was pretty fun or us hometown guys to be able to defeat them and go on to win a Stanley Cup.”
Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy expects to see another physical encounter, similar to the one that the Golden Knights played on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars.
“The team that ends your season is the one you’re circling on your calendar a little bit. That’s human nature. So we expect an intense physical game,” Cassidy said. “We’re getting that early from everybody early on. That’s just the product of being the last team standing. I don’t’ think it’ll change much.”
Former Golden Knight Laurent Brossoit will start in net for the Jets, while Logan Thompson draws the start for the Golden Knights.
Here are the projected lines:
Jets projected lineup
Forwards
Kyle Connor - Mark Scheifele - Mason Appleton
Cole Perfetti - Vladislav Namestnikov - Nikolaj Ehlers
Alex Iafallo - Adam Lowry - Nino Niederreiter
Morgan Barron - Rasmus Kupari - David Gustafsson
Defensemen
Josh Morrissey - Dylan DeMelo
Brenden Dillon - Neal Pionk
Logan Stanley - Dylan Samberg
Goalies
Laurent Brossoit
Connor Hellebuyck
Golden Knights projected lineup
Forwards
Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Jonathan Marchessault
Paul Cotter - Chandler Stephenson - Mark Stone
Brett Howden - William Karlsson - Michael Amadio
William Carrier - Nicolas Roy - Keegan Kolesar
Defensemen
Brayden McNabb - Shea Theodore
Nicolas Hague - Alec Martinez
Ben Hutton - Brayden Pachal
Goalies
Logan Thompson
Adin Hill