Anze Kopitar effectively has flipped the script with 12 goals in just 25 games this season after requiring 75 contests to reach that total in 2016-17. The team leader in goals, assists (16) and points (28), Kopitar looks to continue his surge on Thursday as the Los Angeles Kings play the second contest of their four-game trek against the Washington Capitals.

The Detroit Red Wings hope to salvage the finale of their three-game homestand and halt a four-game winless streak at Little Caesars Arena - and a five-game overall skid (0-2-3) - when they begin a home-and-home series against the Original Six-rival Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. The Red Wings are 0-2-2 in their last four games in Motown and 0-1-1 during their current string at home after Tuesday's 4-1 loss to Los Angeles.

The Nashville Predators have a chance to complete a perfect month of November at home when they host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. The Predators own the best home record in the Western Conference at 9-1-1 and have won six consecutive games at Bridgestone Arena, part of a 10-1-1 overall record in their last 12 games.

Born in Southern California, Jason Zucker was raised in Las Vegas and is the only Nevada-produced player in NHL history. Zucker will get a firsthand look at the expansion franchise on Thursday as his Minnesota Wild welcome the Vegas Golden Knights to the Xcel Energy Center.

After coming up short against a nemesis on the road, the Chicago Blackhawks return home with a chance to extend a winning streak against another division rival. The Blackhawks will host the Dallas Stars on Thursday in the first leg of a home-and-home series, looking to earn their sixth consecutive victory in the series.

With the Arizona Coyotes in a full-fledged rebuild, the team made the move to trade veteran goaltender Mike Smith to the Calgary Flames in the offseason. Smith has started all but three games this season for the Flames and will face his former team for the first time when Calgary hosts the last-place Coyotes on Thursday night.

Taken at their word, Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid aren't heaping adding significance on Thursday's game pitting the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs against the Edmonton Oilers. "It's just another game," said Matthews, the reigning Calder Memorial Trophy recipient, of facing off against the current Hart Trophy winner in McDavid.