With the season nearly two-thirds complete, the San Jose Sharks are playing well, but perhaps not quite at the level they've been accustomed to in recent years.
The Vegas Golden Knights, though, have played nothing like an expansion team.
The Sharks will try to avoid tying a season high with their third straight home loss on Thursday night against the Western Conference-leading Golden Knights.
San Jose (28-17-8) begins play 10 points behind Vegas with 29 games remaining for both clubs. The Sharks hit home ice after having dropped three of five on its latest road trip, capped with a 3-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.