Previewing Thursday's matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and Ottawa Senators

The last time the Vegas Golden Knights and Ottawa Senators met, the two teams were caught up in a high-scoring affair. The pesky Senators wouldn't go away, holding a 4-3 lead deep in the third period. That was until disaster struck for the road team.

A late interference call on Nick Cousins against Golden Knights forward Tanner Pearson led to a power play. That also led to a goal by... Who else? Tomas Hertl. That would open the flood gates as Keegan Kolesar scored the game-winner and Ivan Barbashev added an empty-net goal.

Fans thought this was going to be their first home loss.

"Oh no! It's a trap game!"

Not so fast, dear reader. When you have Hertl on a top-five power play, you're bound to have plenty of goals. That was especially true on October 25, when the Golden Knights continued their hot start at T-Mobile Arena.

Now these two teams will square off on Thursday, with another two points on the line. The banged-up Golden Knights have lost two straight games, including a shutout against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. Now, the Senators have a chance against a wounded Golden Knights team. Will Vegas overcome these problems and get their first win on their five-game road trip? What storylines should fans watch for?

The main storylines between the Vegas Golden Knights and Ottawa Senators

When you see this matchup, you're looking at a potential game between Linus Ullmark and Ilya Samsonov. If you don't understand what's being referenced, here's a glimpse of the beef.

Linus Ullmark stated he was surprised that the Toronto Maple Leafs kept Samsonov around. They stuck with him until he petered out. Joseph Woll was more challenging, keeping Toronto in the game. Of course, that prompted Samsonov to respond, telling fans to mark their calenders.

Well, this fateful day has come, with the Vegas Golden Knights playing against the Ottawa Senators. Could we see both netminders face off against one another? Might we see a goalie fight that reminds fans of Patrick Roy and Mike Vernon? Get your popcorn ready because everyone will be in for classic cinema.

There's also another game where the Golden Knights will see Michael Amadio. The 2023 Stanley Cup champion has scored two goals and two assists in 18 games. He's provided lower-line scoring for Ottawa and has 22 hits. Amadio has become the quintessential player for the bottom six, putting together grinding shifts.

Finally, how will the Senators respond after blowing a 4-3 lead against the Golden Knights? The Golden Knights are 11-1-1 all-time against Ottawa, dominating their Eastern Conference opponents in the past eight seasons. In fact, February 24 of this year was their first home win against Vegas in franchise history (4-3 in a shootout). The black and gold have earned points in all but one game during the matchup.

If you're reeling from Wednesday's rough shutout loss to the Maple Leafs, fear not, Golden Knights fans. Thursday is a new day, which means new opportunities. That also means a chance to earn two points and get on the right foot on this challenging five-game road trip.