FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Predators - Game 52 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Predators – Game 52 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Vegas Golden Knights (30-18-4)  | Nashville Predators  (24-19-6)

 

The Golden Knights return from the All-Star break in dominating fashion, defeating the Nashville Predators 5-1. 

 

The Vegas Golden Knights had a much needed All-Star break, and the Misfits were back to business as they went on the road to play against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

The Knights needed to get back on track in the win column after struggling with four straight road losses. Due to injuries, especially Mark Stone’s injury that had sidelined him indefinitely throughout this season. But the good news going into this game was the return of Zach Whitecloud after missing 21 games.

With Logan Thompson participating during All-Star break weekend, Adin Hill was in net against Nashville.

Just 5 minutes into the first period, the Predators struck first when Roman Josi shot a one-timer goal to put the Predators on the board first, 1-0. 

But the one-goal lead for the Predators did not last long. Just a minute later, the Golden Knights answered back when Michael Amadio scored with a wrist shot off of a feed pass from William Karlsson and Reilly Smith to tie the game 1-1.

Scoring one goal was not enough for Vegas. About 30 seconds later, the Knights scored again when William Carrier scored after shooting on a breakaway to give the Knights the lead of 2-1.

Vegas was indeed dominating on the offensive side, outshooting the Predators 17-4, which paid off midway through the first period as Phil Kessel scored after picking up a rebound from William Carrier to extend the lead 3-1.

 

The first period for the Knights was a complete dominant run, as they outscored Nashville and ended with two-goal lead.

 

Vegas continued to outscore Nashville throughout the second period. 

Almost 3 minutes into the second, Chandler Stephenson scored a 12th goal to extend the lead 4-1 for Vegas.

The tempo of the second period remained the same as it ended 4-1 in favor of Vegas. 

The third period for the Knights was to only play keep away by playing the puck possession battle. The Predators were able to get more shots on goal but still could not generate any pucks in the net.

With just over two minutes left in the period, right after a Nashville power play, the Knights scored an empty net goal from Alex Pietrangelo to further extend the lead to 5-1.

The 4-goal lead was now out of reach for Nashville as the Knights closed out the game and got the victory 5-1, ending their four-game losing streak. Also, with the win, the Knights are back on top at first place in the Pacific division, but it is still a tight race with the Seattle Kraken and Los Angeles Kings trailing right behind.

“It’s tight in the West so you’ve got to make these games count,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “There’s still a lot of hockey left. Let’s start taking care of business, playing the right way, building our game so that it’s sound going toward the end of the year.”

 

Takeaway

 

Adin Hill finishes the game with 16 saves, Chandler Stephenson in his two previous meetings against the Predators now has two goals and three assists, and in his 10 overall games against the Predators, he has a total of six goals and eight assists.

 The Golden Knights will go on to face the Minnesota Wild on Thursday at the Xcel Energy Arena. They are scheduled to drop the puck at 4:00 pm. The game can be seen on  AT&T SportsNet (channel 313 on Cox Cable) or heard on 98.9 FM, FOX Sports Las Vegas 1340 AM.