LAS VEGAS -- The Vegas Golden Knights will see how they match up against the Pittsburgh Penguins in a Friday Night encounter in Las Vegas tonight. Friday's game is the first meeting of two against these two franchises.
It'll be Reilly Smith's very first game since getting traded back to the Golden Knights from the Rangers, as he is set to play in his 400th career game as a Golden Knight. He mentioned earlier Friday, as soon as he landed in Vegas he already felt the support from the fans, "I was recognized more in the five minutes after I landed last night at 1:30 than I have been in the last year and a half. The fanbase here has been so special to myself and my family".
Also, in the press conference from this morning's media availability, Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy addressed that the team needs to focus on building off the good things their team has been doing well. He also mentioned this, "We've got to be ready to play every night. That's where our focus has been on, and it's trending very well".
Last 10 Games
Pittsburgh comes into the game at 2-8, and Vegas comes into tonight with a 6-4 record in their last 10 games. In Pittsburgh's last game out when they faced Colorado, they lost 1-4, and at one point were tied 1-1, but then gave up 3 goals in the third period to go on and get defeated by the Avalanche.
Top performers
Mark Stone has 16 goals and 35 assists for Vegas this season, and Tomas Hertl in his last 10 games has five goals and 8 assists. On the Pittsburgh side, Sidney Crosby has 19 goals and 47 assists, and Rickard Rackell has 8 points in his last 10 games, with six goals and two assists.
Head-to-Head
Golden Knights all-time against the Penguins is 5-7, and a game has never gone to overtime against these two teams since 2017, the first season the Golden Knights became a franchise. Last time Vegas played Pittsburgh at Vegas was on November 19, 2023, with Pittsburgh winning 3-0 against Vegas.
Standings
Golden Knights have a 4-point lead over Edmonton in first place in the Pacific Division at 80 and the Oilers at 76. Penguins are 4 points behind the Flyers in last place in the Metropolitan Division with 58 points and the Flyers at 62.