FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Predators - Game 36

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Predators – Game 36

Franchise Sports Media

Golden Knights (22-14)  | Nashville Predators (21-11)

Golden Knights’ late offense was not enough as they fall to the Nashville Predators 3-2.

This was the second meeting of the season between the Nashville Predators and the Vegas Golden Knights, with VGK taking the first game 5-2.

Both teams having been playing well over their last few games. VGK is 7-3 in their last ten while the Predators are 8-2. A strange but true fact, both these teams started the season 1-4 and now they are high point leaders in the Western Conference. Vegas is first in the conference with 45 points, and Nashville is not far behind with 42 points. These two hot teams went to battle in the fortress, with high expectations of a good game.

Due to injuries, the Knights went with Logan Thompson tonight at goalie, who made his first ever start in the NHL. The puck dropped and the game was off. It was a very quiet first period with no score on the board, which is unusual for the Knights at home. They had a nice opportunity in the beginning of the first, with a steal by Jonathan Marchessault who went on a fast break with Reilly Smith, but they could not capitalize on the opportunity.

VGK was able to kill a power play from a William Karlsson trip almost halfway through the period, which was a good sight to see as the Knights have given up twelve goals in the last eleven powerplays. Thompson held his own by saving 10-for-10 shots on goal in the first period, playing as if this was not his first start in the NHL.

The Knights offense failed to show up as the Predators got some momentum going in the 2nd.

The second started off fast as the zeros were wiped off the board in a blink. Just three minutes into the period, Nashville’s forward, Filip Forsberg, was able to capitalize on a turnover and put one in the net breaking the 0-0 tie. Soon after, the Knights had a shot to tie things up on a fast break but could not score. The Knights had no chance to dwell on that because the Predators did not slow down.

Just seven minutes in, the Predators were able to score their second of the game off a deflection from Yakov Trenin’s stick. The Knights needed a response quickly but they could not make it happen through the first two periods. Nashville’s goalie, Juuse Saros, was dominant and it seemed like nothing could get through him as it looked like Nashville was running away with it.

VGK had a strong third period to make things a little interesting.

It seemed like all hope was lost when Forsberg scored for the second time in the game to push the lead to 3-0 in the early couple minutes of the third. He was able to score on a 1-on-1 fast break opportunity against VGK’s Alex Pietrangelo. Frustration was shown on the ice as the Knights could not believe what was happening in their own building.

However, knowing the Golden Knights, it’s not over until it’s over. In the twelve minute, the Knights won a faceoff in the offensive zone and were able to score by a shot on goal by Brayden McNabb, which hit Karlsson’s skate, to get their first points on the board. The fortress started to make some noise again as fans sensed a comeback. The Knights made the decision to pull their goalie with just over three minutes to play, which is a good sign for them as they scored five goals this season with an extra attacker. That number jumped to six as they won another faceoff, with Shea Theodore scoring on a one-timer from Pietrangelo to bring the game within one. Unfortunately, their lady luck ran out as they could not get another solid shot on goal after that, resulting in a loss.

The Knights will be back on Thursday as they face the New York Rangers with puck drop at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.