The Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights will put their five-game successful streak on the road after they go to the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.
The Golden Knights (44-20-8, 96 factors) arrive in Nashville, the ultimate cease on a three-game highway journey, figuring out they should be higher from begin to end than they have been in a 5-3 comeback victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.
“We knew we weren’t at our greatest,” Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin mentioned. “The trouble’s at all times there with our group, however we weren’t executing. We knew we have been able to successful that recreation and simply needed to put collectively a very good third interval. … It was a lucky two factors not taking part in our greatest.”
In opposition to the Central Division cellar-dwelling Blackhawks, Vegas blew a second-period lead and even trailed going into the third interval earlier than scoring three unanswered targets. The Golden Knights have a seven-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings for the division crown with 10 video games to play.
“We will construct off that third interval,” Hanifin mentioned. “These first two, you have to flush it. It is one other massive alternative for us to get two factors and end off a very good highway journey.”
The Golden Knights noticed their massive weapons step up after they have been wanted most, however in addition they confirmed off their depth within the victory. Victor Olofsson not solely snapped a 20-game goal-scoring drought with a second-period tally, however he cued the third-period comeback with a game-tying aim 126 seconds into the ultimate body.
“I have never scored shortly, so it undoubtedly helps with the arrogance and offers me a very good increase,” Olofsson mentioned. “I’ve a bit extra pop in my stride and am attacking a bit extra.”
The Predators (27-37-8, 62 factors) have been eradicated from playoff rivalry with a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, a demise knell in what has been a massively disappointing season.
“I do know it is the numbers, however I really feel like we have been eradicated a very long time in the past,” ahead Ryan O’Reilly mentioned. “We knew it was coming; we’ve not been nice by any means. Myself, I have never been nice by any means. So, it was anticipated.”
The defeat was an ideal microcosm of Nashville’s season, which started with promise after an offseason through which the membership added a trio of big-name and big-ticket veteran free brokers in forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault and defenseman Brady Skjei. However the season rapidly fizzled right into a catastrophe.
The Predators led the Blues 2-0 lead on the halfway level Thursday however watched the lead disappear and the sport flip right into a dismal defeat.
“Just about epitomizes the entire yr in a single recreation,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette mentioned.
The Predators have 10 video games remaining and may have loads of time for a autopsy, however a couple of faults are simple to identify. Offensively, they’re the league’s lowest-scoring staff, and solely the Chicago Blackhawks have earned fewer factors on the highway.
Nashville, which has solely two victories in its previous eight video games (2-5-1), misplaced thrice to the Blues in a 10-day span by a mixed rating of 11-4.
“We confirmed form of the place we’re — why we’re the place we’re versus the place they’re,” ahead Filip Forsberg mentioned.
–Discipline Degree Media