Grab some breakfast and then head down to the T-Mobile Arena because the Vegas Golden Knights (20-15-2) take on the Montreal Canadiens (18-13-5) today at 1pm. Vegas is on a recent win one, lose one streak while Montreal comes to town with a similar 3-2 record in their last five games.
Thursday night's win against the New York Islanders spurred some changes for the Vegas Golden Knights. Max Pacioretty was held out of the game, due to an undisclosed injury, and AHL-call up Brandon Pirri played on the second line and on the power play, in his place. Defenseman Colin Miller missed his first game since becoming a Golden Knight, with Brad Hunt drawing the start alongside Nick Holden. Miller may be back in the lineup for the Canadiens game, but Pacioretty is expected to a miss a little more time. When asked how long Pacioretty would be out, coach Gerard Gallant replied "not long".
Brandon Pirri (73), USA Today Sports
In addition to the injuries and the insertion of Pirri, who scored a power play goal, Vegas eventually tried out a new look with their top-six. Vegas' first forward line has been Jonathan Marchessault-William Karlsson-Reilly Smith since their inception. In the Islander game, Gallant slid Alex Tuch up to the top line and Smith played with Paul Stastny and Pirri in Tuch's spot. Those two lines passed the eye test, creating chances and pushing play. Tuch spent just over seven minutes of game time with the top line and posted a Corsi For % of 60% when on the ice with Marchessault.
As good as the new top line was, the 4:19 Smith spent with Stastny was even better. Stastny and Smith posted a CF% of 92.31, an ungodly high number, with a 12-1 Corsi ratio (Corsi For vs Corsi Against). Those two men, with Pirri, did a great job creating chances, shutting down the Islanders' attack, and spending time on the offensive. Both Stastny and Smith are remarkable two-way players and could make some big things happen, with the shooter Pirri on their wing. Although it has only been one game, that line looks like it needs to stay together, even upon the return of Pacioretty. Pirri has shown that he belongs in the NHL, every time he is called up. In the Golden Knights' only practice following the Islander game (Friday), Tuch skated with the top line, sporting the white practice jersey, with the 2nd line of Pirri-Stastny-Smith donning the maroon.
Montreal comes to town two days removed from a back-to-back set against the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes. The Canadiens dropped a 2-1 decision in Colorado, before winning a 2-1 game the next night in Glendale, AZ. Montreal got goals from Paul Byron and all-star defenseman Shea Weber, en route to the 2-1 win against the Yotes. Goaltender Carey Price, who has been a shell of himself of late, put two very strong games together on the back-to-back. In Arizona, he turned away 36 of 37 shots to pick up the win. Last (2017-18) season was Price's worst statistical season of his 12-year career (3.11 GAA, .900 SV%) and although this season has started off better (2.84 GAA, .905 SV%), the numbers are not what you'd expect from a multi-time all-star, Vezina winner, and MVP candidate like Price.
Carey Price, USA Today Sports
Today's game may very well be a match-up between Price and Marc-Andre Fleury, two of the best goaltenders of the 21st century. In the first game of their own back-to-back today, Gallant will almost certainly use Fleury against the Canadiens and save Malcolm Subban for the lowly Kings on Sunday (certainly not a guarantee for Subban). Fleury was the man in net Thursday against the Islanders, stopping 19 of 21 shots, and picking up the win. The only goals ceded by Fleury were crammed into a rough two-minute stretch at the end of the first period. Matthew Barzal scored the Islanders' first goal at 18:30 of the opening period and Brock Nelson added another at 19:38. From that point, Vegas remained flawless and cruised to a 4-2 win.
Tomas Tatar, USA Today Sports
In their last head-to-head meeting, the Montreal Canadiens beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4, with former Golden Knight, Tomas Tatar registering the game-winning goal. Tatar will again be in the lineup against Vegas, but this will be his first game back in the T-Mobile Arena, as a visitor. Vegas' return in that trade, Pacioretty, will not be on display, but Montreal will get their first look this season at Pirri. In today's game, the new Stastny line should wreak havoc in both zones and can serve as a real difference maker in this game.
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