Pre-Scout: Vegas looks for bounceback in Pacific showdown, but without Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore

Wrapping up Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said the Vegas Golden Knights will be an “ornery” mood for the Edmonton Oilers game tonight.

It makes sense why.

The Golden Knights got doubled up 6-3 against the Calgary Flames, snapping an eight-game point streak, and setting up a back-to-back where both Edmonton and Vegas are looking for a win to salvage their weekends.

That was just the seventh regulation loss of the Knights’ season – only the Colorado Avalanche have fewer regulation losses. However, they sit just two points better than the Edmonton Oilers, with a 16-7-10 record.

Yes, that’s right. Ten loser points. They’ve gone to overtime or a shootout a league-leading 14 times and have gone 4-10 after 60 minutes.

However, they’ll be without their leading scorer and top defenceman in Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore, who didn’t make the Alberta trip. Both are dealing with injury and illness.

It’s a quick two-game trip this weekend for the Golden Knights, as they return home to play their rival San Jose Sharks on Tuesday before the Christmas break.

Like a Stone

The big splash of the off-season was the acquisition of Mitch Marner, and he’s been a fine addition to their top-six, with six goals and 34 points in 33 games played. He compliments Jack Eichel’s game well, and with the Golden Knights’ depth, he’s playing a minute less per game on average than he did the last three seasons with the........

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