Mar 11, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin (15) strikes the puck in opposition to Pittsburgh Penguins heart Noel Acciari (55) through the third interval at PPG Paints Enviornment. Obligatory Credit score: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Pictures The Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights will put their five-game profitable 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, realizing they should be higher from begin to end than they had 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 all the time there with our group, however we weren’t executing. We knew we had been able to profitable that sport and simply needed to put collectively a superb third interval. … It was a lucky two factors not taking part in our greatest.”
Towards 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 objectives. The Golden Knights have a seven-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings for the division crown with 10 video games to play.
“We are able to construct off that third interval,” Hanifin mentioned. “These first two, you have to flush it. It is one other large alternative for us to get two factors and end off a superb highway journey.”
The Golden Knights noticed their large weapons step up after they had been wanted most, however additionally 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 objective 126 seconds into the ultimate body.
“I have not scored shortly, so it undoubtedly helps with the arrogance and offers me a superb 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) had been eradicated from playoff rivalry with a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, a loss of life knell in what has been a massively disappointing season.
“I do know it is the numbers, however I really feel like we had 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 not 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 sport,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette mentioned.
The Predators have 10 video games remaining and could have loads of time for a autopsy, however a number of faults are straightforward to identify. Offensively, they’re the league’s lowest-scoring crew, 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.
–Subject Stage Media
