The Golden Knights open the final 18-game push of the regular season Tuesday night in Dallas, and the standings leave little room to waste one.
Vegas enters the matchup at 29-21-14, one point behind Anaheim for first in the Pacific and two points ahead of Edmonton. There are 18 games left, with 11 still to play in March and seven in April before the regular season closes April 15 at home against Seattle.
Final 18 begins
That is what makes this trip matter. Vegas is not just trying to steady itself after a rough stretch. It is trying to hold its place in a division that has tightened around it.