Stars and Golden Knights Prepare for Playoff-Like Battle in Vegas

The Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights renew their rivalry on Tuesday night in a pivotal Western Conference clash in Las Vegas.

Golden Knights Seek Momentum

The Vegas Golden Knights (30-17-3) are coming off a confidence-boosting 4-1 home victory over the Florida Panthers on Sunday, snapping a tough stretch in which they won just three of their last 10 games. Despite their struggles, Vegas remains atop the Pacific Division, holding a one-point lead over the Edmonton Oilers.

Adin Hill was a standout in the win over Florida, making 33 saves to snap his personal three-game losing streak. Nicolas Roy added three assists, while Tanner Pearson scored the game-winner, helping Vegas secure just its second win in seven games.

“Everyone in the room knows what we need to do,” Pearson said. “Every point is crucial this time of year. We just have to focus on the next game and keep grinding.”

Vegas hasn’t won back-to-back games since early January and will look to string together wins before heading into a lengthy break starting Feb. 9.

Stars Look to Extend Road Success

The Dallas Stars (29-14-5) enter the matchup on a two-game winning streak after defeating the Golden Knights 4-3 at home last Friday and blanking the St. Louis Blues 2-0 the following night. Backup goaltender Casey DeSmith earned his second shutout of the season with 33 saves against the Blues, while Evgenii Dadonov recorded a goal and an assist.

Despite a grueling schedule of 11 games in 19 nights, the Stars have won seven of their last nine road games, showing resilience in tight contests. “We were running on fumes,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “Casey DeSmith came in and was our best player, which is what we needed.”

Familiar Foes in a Competitive Series

Tuesday’s game marks the third and final regular-season meeting between the Stars and Golden Knights, who have developed a heated rivalry after competitive playoff series in each of the last two postseasons. Both previous games this season were decided by a single goal, with Vegas taking a 3-2 win on Dec. 6 and Dallas winning 4-3 last Friday, fueled by two goals from Jason Robertson.

“We know what to expect,” said Dallas center Matt Duchene, the team’s leading scorer with 47 points. “It’s a playoff game every time we play them.”

Industry’s Best

Handicapping Membership

Get Free Trial

Key Matchups to Watch

• Vegas Offense vs. DeSmith’s Hot Hand: The Golden Knights will look to test Dallas’ backup goalie, who has been in stellar form.
• Jason Robertson’s Impact: Robertson’s two-goal performance was key in Dallas’ recent win over Vegas. He’ll look to repeat that success.
• Special Teams Battle: With both teams accustomed to tight games, power-play efficiency could be the difference.

What’s at Stake

The Golden Knights aim to solidify their lead in the Pacific Division, while the Stars seek to maintain their strong road form and inch closer to Central Division leader Winnipeg. Both teams view this matchup as a playoff preview, setting the stage for an intense showdown.