The Vegas Golden Knights won their sixth consecutive game with a 3-1 victory over the Nashville Predators Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena.
For the second game in a row, the difference proved to be a power-play goal in the third period. This time, it was Reilly Smith who netted the game-winner, finding twine for the first time since returning to the Golden Knights at the trade deadline.
It was an almost fitting setting for Smith’s first in his second stint with the club considering it came against the Golden Knights’ first matchup against Original Misfit Jonathan Marchessault. Marchessault was held to one shot and finished with a minus-one rating in 16:21. He is set to make his highly-anticipated return to T-Mobile Arena when these clubs meet again on April 12.
Jack Eichel also scored for the Golden Knights, and Brett Howden sealed the win with the empty netter for the second time in two games. Adin Hill made a surprise start after Ilya Samsonov tweaked something during warmups, but Hill came through once again, winning both parts of the back-to-back set to help the Golden Knights sweep the three-game road trip.
Vegas (45-20-8) is now nine points ahead of Los Angeles in the Pacific Division standings, though the Kings have a game in hand.
There were just two penalties called in the game, and both resulted in goals.
After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, William Karlsson received a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after following through on a shot despite the play being blown dead on an offside. It appeared as though Karlsson — who had not been penalized once all season — did not hear the whistle, which coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed after the game. Cassidy added that he did not particularly like the call but thought the team handled the adversity well.
That adversity came in the form of a power-play goal for Nashville just six seconds into the ensuing man-advantage. Ryan O’Reilly redirected Nick Blankenburg’s shot off the faceoff past a screened Hill to give the Predators a 1-0 lead 5:53 into the middle frame.
It was all Golden Knights after the goal, and Vegas tied the game less than three minutes later when Eichel slammed home a rebound off a Shea Theodore shot for his 27th goal of the season.
It was Theodore’s 50th point of the year, a feat he has now accomplished twice in his career. The assist brought him into a tie with Alex Pietrangelo for the franchise record of assists by a defenseman in a single season (43), which Pietrangelo set in the 2022-23 campaign.
The Predators wasted little time with a response of their own, as O’Reilly beat Hill again after spinning and shooting in the slot. However, Vegas issued a successful challenge for goaltender interference, which nullified the goal. Luke Evangelista made contact with Hill in the crease, thus preventing him from making the save.
That was the last time a puck got behind Hill.
But he wasn’t the only netminder who had a strong showing, as Predators goalie Justus Annunen committed highway robbery on multiple occasions. He made a spectacular save on Smith in the first period and came up with another dandy on Eichel in the second to keep the two clubs tied at 1-1 through two periods.
Hill made a timely save on a 2-on-1 early in the third, and Mark Stone drew a hooking call after driving to the net 4:33 into the period to set up Vegas’ first and only power play of the game.
Smith’s 11th of the season and first with Vegas since 2023 gave Vegas its first lead of the night at 6:25. Smith won a battle in the crease and put home a rebound after a heavy shot by Victor Olofsson popped up and over Annunen.
It marked Vegas’ 52nd power-play goal of the season, which ties the franchise record from the inaugural campaign. However, the Golden Knights have done so this year on 79 fewer chances (169 vs. 248).
Hill came through with another impressive stop to preserve the lead, shutting down Justin Barron with a confident glove save.
With 45 seconds remaining, Howden hit the empty net for his 22nd tally of the season to ice the Golden Knights’ 45th win of the year.
This was arguably Vegas’ best game of a successful road trip. Collecting six out of six points has enabled the Golden Knights to create important separation in a tight division race, which is vital to ensure home-ice advantage through at least the first two rounds of the postseason.
But the win in Nashville was not just a means to collect two points, it was another critical step for Vegas as it inches closer to hitting its stride. The Golden Knights continue to settle in as a cohesive unit, fine-tune various aspects of their game, develop chemistry and build momentum for the final stretch. They are coming together and finding ways to win games as a team.
Saturday’s win was another example of Vegas shutting the door and finishing the job in the third period, which they did in all three games on the trip. The Golden Knights did not give up a goal in the third period in Chicago or Nashville, and they scored three unanswered goals in the third period against Minnesota after Marcus Johansson gave the Wild a 2-1 lead less than two minutes in. Since Johansson’s goal, Vegas has outscored its opponents 8-0 in the third period.
Vegas is also getting contributions from throughout the lineup, and different players are stepping up, particularly with Tomas Hertl not traveling with the team, Pietrangelo being out of the lineup and Samsonov being a late scratch.
Hill said he didn’t find out until after warmups that he would be starting against the Predators.
“My body felt good, and I felt sharp,” he said. “You prepare for every game the same way. You come to the rink with the mindset that if something happens, I’ll be ready to go in. So that doesn’t change.”
Hill turned aside 23 of 24 shots for a .958 save percentage.
“He hasn’t changed,” Smith said about the Vegas backstop. “He’s such a calming presence back there. He makes it easy on us when games are just full of transition and up and down.”
Hill has been sensational for the Golden Knights, going 10-1-1 since the 4 Nations break, including 3-0-0 on the road trip. He is 6-0-1 in his last seven games.
Once again, the top line played very well and made its way into the scoresheet, as Eichel scored the lone 5-on-5 goal of the game. His career season continues, as he is now up to 93 points after another multi-point effort. He has 13 points during his current six-game point streak and has recorded points in 14 of his last 15 games, scoring eight goals and adding 16 helpers in that stretch. Stone assisted on Eichel’s goal and also drew the penalty that set up Smith’s power-play strike, which was assisted by Ivan Barbashev.
That being said, much like Friday’s game in Chicago, perhaps the even more encouraging performance was the play of the third line, which looked dangerous throughout the contest. The chemistry between Smith and Karlsson is no surprise, but Olofsson appears to be a perfect fit. He and Smith were particularly effective tonight. But for Annunen, those two would have done more damage.
“I think [Karlsson] and [Olofsson] have done a great job putting me in good spots and giving me opportunities,” Smith said. “I think our chemistry is getting a little bit better over the last two games, and we just have to keep on trying to create as many opportunities as possible, and the puck will find its way.”
Cassidy was pleased with the line’s development.
“So far, it’s trending well,” he said. “We’ll see where it goes. But they’re a line that can play against anybody. They have good speed. I thought they forechecked exceptionally well today. They’ve been good on the rush, that hasn’t been an issue. They all play special teams. … If they get the o-zone game going with the forecheck like they did tonight, boy, they’ll be a load.”
Though the trio didn’t actually score at 5-on-5, the line was a threat all game and finished the contest with a 71.60 percent expected goal share as well as an 11-8 advantage in Corsi and a 5-2 edge in scoring chances (2-0 in high-danger chances) in 11:42.
Vegas’ fourth line was the only line that didn’t lead in shots, scoring chances and expected goals, though Howden made his presence felt when he put the game away.
“I just thought we battled through well, plain and simple,” Cassidy said, adding that winning the final game of a road trip is a sign that “guys are invested.”
As a team, it’s clear that the Golden Knights are buying in and committed to winning.
“We can find a lot of different ways to win,” Smith said. “Every night, different people are stepping up. I think that’s what you need going into the playoffs and trying to make a big push, is a lot of parity in your lineup, and I think we do a good job doing that so far.”
The Golden Knights will return home for two games against the Oilers and Jets before heading out on another three-game road trip, which includes a back-to-back against Calgary and Vancouver followed by a game in Denver.
