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Kings at Golden Knights Preview: Malcolm Subban called to start for Vegas

Hi, Malcolm Subban. It’s been a while.

Subban will make his first start since Dec. 27 when the Golden Knights host the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday.

The last appearance for Subban in the crease didn’t go so well; he allowed four goals in a 4-3 loss at Anaheim, and allowed three within a span of two minutes. Outside of that, Subban has been spectacular for the Golden Knights (6-2-1 in his past nine starts with a .917 save percentage).

Marc-Andre Fleury made the last five starts for Vegas, going 4-1-0 in that stretch (all at home), but Fleury allowed four goals in each of his past three starts. While the debate can be had on whose fault those goals lie at, Fleury was in need of a rest and he will get that dubious honor.

Jonathan Marchessault will miss his fourth consecutive game with a lower-body injury, and all expectations are that he will sit out Saturday’s matchup with Columbus before Vegas embarks on an eight-game road trip split through All-Star Weekend and the mandatory bye week. Chandler Stephenson, who played in Marchessault’s place on Tuesday in the 4-3 loss to the Penguins, will remain on the top line.

The only noted line change for Vegas is a potential swap of Tomas Nosek and William Carrier; Nosek took rushes with the third line at the morning skate, while Carrier was on the left with Nicolas Roy and Ryan Reaves.

As for the Kings, they’re playing a SEGABABA after losing 2-1 to the Dallas Stars at home on Wednesday. Los Angeles played well in the first 20-plus minutes, but two goals from Dallas in 37 seconds was the difference maker.

Jack Campbell is expected to get the nod for the Kings; Jonathan Quick made 30 saves on Wednesday. Campbell has played notoriously well against the Golden Knights; he’s faced Vegas twice, both times at T-Mobile Arena, and he’s allowed one goal in each of those starts. He made 46 saves on Jan. 1, 2019, but the Golden Knights won 2-0.

Campbell also had a 41-save performance on Feb. 27, 2018, his first NHL win, at Vegas.

The Kings are 6-4-1 against the Golden Knights in the regular season, with the season series tied 1-1. Los Angeles has been able to play strong against Vegas, even with Vegas owning that 4-0 sweep in the Western Conference First Round two seasons ago. That’s a good number to hang the Kings’ collective hat on as they begin a five-game road trip tonight.

Kings projected lineup

Alex Iafallo — Anze Kopitar — Tyler Toffoli

Nikolai Prokhorkin — Jeff Carter — Dustin Brown

Adrian Kempe — Michael Amadio — Austin Wagner

Kyle Clifford — Trevor Lewis — Matt Luff

Sean Walker — Drew Doughty

Ben Hutton — Alec Martinez

Derek Forbort — Matt Roy

Jack Campbell

Jonathan Quick

Golden Knights projected lineup

Chandler Stephenson — William Karlsson — Reilly Smith

Max Pacioretty — Paul Stastny — Mark Stone

Tomas Nosek — Cody Eakin — Alex Tuch

William Carrier — Nicolas Roy — Ryan Reaves

Brayden McNabb — Nate Schmidt

Nick Holden — Shea Theodore

Nicolas Hague — Deryk Engelland

Malcolm Subban

Marc-Andre Fleury

How to watch

Time: 7 p.m.

TV: AT&T SportsNet, NHL.TV

Radio: Fox Sports 98.9 FM, 1340 AM