Vegas Golden Knights vs Los Angeles Kings: Everything you Need to Know
By Evan Mead
The National Hockey League and Vegas Golden Knights are back tonight for the first time in a week. With the COVID-19 outbreak that left most of the teams in despair due to the lack of NHL players, the NHL shut down for Christmas Break. Now, hockey has returned and the Knights are ready to take on pacific division rival, the Los Angeles Kings.
Reflecting back before the NHL shut down for a little bit, the Vegas Golden Knights were on a roll and making a run to take the lead in the Pacific Division. The Calgary Flames had a COVID outbreak, the Edmonton Oilers had a losing streak, and the Knights were winning. Now, things aren’t looking as good for the Knights as Karma got another piece of the Knights.
The Vegas Golden Knights are getting ready to take on the Los Angeles Kings tonight in their first game back. Yesterday it was reported that there were a lot of players that could miss tonight’s game hurt, and there are four people added to the COVID list- including Pete DeBoer.
So now that we got the hard news out of the way, let’s talk a little further about what happened yesterday. First, let’s talk about the Vegas Golden Knights COVID outbreak.
Yesterday afternoon the Vegas Golden Knights announced that they had added: Head coach Pete DeBoer forward, Brett Howden, Evgenii Dadonov, and Alex Pietrangelo to the COVID-19 list. Although, Howden and Dadonov aren’t necessarily crucial players, they do hold value as far as depth goes. Not to mention Dadonov’s third-line talent is a steal.
Alex Pietrangelo and Pete DeBoer being out on COVID is a major concern for the Vegas Golden Knights. Pete DeBoer has done a phenomenal job coaching the Knights this season despite everything he’s had to endure. As for Pietrangelo, he’s everything to the defense. He plays on the first line defense, he’s a big part to the power play and a even bigger part on the penalty kill. Losing them two is a huge loss for the Knights.
Second, they announced that Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, and Robin Lehner were game-time decisions. Although Laurent Brossoit has proved he can play games in net and be okay, Lehner is still the Vegas Golden Knights starting goalie and is quite loved by Vegas fans and teammates. Then you take a look at the other two names.
Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty have already missed multiple games this season due to injuries and it could appear they could miss tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Kings. There were no real designations for them, but they are currently considered game-time decisions.
Third, you take a look at who could possibly be returning and see the name Nolan Patrick pop up. Nolan Patrick has been working his way back from an upper-body injury over the course of the last couple months but it appears as though his return could be tonight. This would be his first game since Edmonton.
So now that we got everything out of the way, let’s get into what tonight’s lineup could look just minus the players on COVID:
Forwards
Mark Stone-Chandler Stephenson-Max Pacioretty
Jonathan Marchessault-William Karlsson-Reilly Smith
Mattias Janmark-Nicolas Roy-Michael Amadio
William Carrier-Nolan Patrick-Keegan Kolesar
Defenseman
Shea Theodore-Nicolas Hague
Brayden McNabb-Zach Whitecloud
Ben Hutton-Dylan Coghlan
Goalies
Laurent Brossoit
Logan Thompson
Now that we took a look at the lineups with Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty, I want to confirm that during morning skate today, it was reported that Max Pacioretty and Nicolas Hague both skated today. Mark Stone and Robin Lehner did not. So now that we have that information, let’s take a look at what the lineup could look without Mark Stone and Robin Lehner.
Forwards
Jonathan Marchessault-William Karlsson-Reilly Smith
Keegan Kolesar-Chandler Stephenson-Max Pacioretty
Mattias Janmark-Nolan Patrick-Nicolas Roy
William Carrier-Adam Brooks-Michael Amadio
Defenseman
Shea Theodore-Nicolas Hague
Brayden McNabb-Zach Whitecloud
Ben Hutton-Dylan Coghlan
Goalies
Laurent Brossoit
Logan Thompson
It was reported while I was writing this article that Laurent Brossoit was the first one off the ice today during morning skate. So with that it would appear that Brossoit will be in net tonight for the Vegas Golden Knights.
So now that we got the lineups out of the way, let’s take a look at the need to know stuff.
Vegas Golden Knights vs Los Angeles Kings
The Vegas Golden Knights are set to take on the Los Angeles Kings after an extended break. Although there was a lot of bad news for Knights fans as they get ready for action, hockey is back.
Date: Tuesday- December 28th, 2021
Time: 7:30 P.M.
Where: STAPLES Center
Radio: KKGK 98.9 FM or 1340 AM
How to Watch: ESPN+
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