Paul Stastny’s 700th career point was one for the highlight reel.
With Max Pacioretty tying the game in the final second of regulation, Stastny capped the comeback with a goal 1:52 into overtime, giving the Vegas Golden Knights a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night.
Mark Stone, Reilly Smith, and Pacioretty each contributed a goal and an assist for Vegas, which snapped a three-game losing streak. Malcolm Subban made 31 saves to earn his first win of the season.
“It was pretty exciting to win a game like that,” Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said. “We needed something like that for our team tonight. Score late like that and then win overtime—it’s huge for us.”
Mikael Granlund and Matt Duchene each tallied a goal and an assist for Nashville. Ryan Ellis added a goal, and Roman Josi chipped in two assists.
In overtime, Nate Schmidt intercepted a pass from Calle Jarnkrok and led a 2-on-0 breakaway with Stastny. Schmidt dished a cross-ice pass, and Stastny one-timed it past Nashville goalie Juuse Saros for the game-winner.
Stastny’s goal marked his 700th NHL point. He and his father, Peter, became the third father-son duo to each reach the 700-point milestone, joining the Hulls and the Howes.
“We never gave up,” Stastny said. “The spirit on the bench was always strong. Sometimes, it takes until the last second.”
Nashville seemed poised for a regulation victory until Pacioretty scored with just 0.3 seconds remaining in the third period. Subban pulled for the extra attacker to send the game to overtime.
“We had everyone on board tonight,” Pacioretty said. “This is definitely a game we can rally behind.”
Duchene had earlier given Nashville a 3-2 lead in the third period with a wrist shot from the high slot, marking his seventh goal of the season.
Stone opened the scoring for Vegas at 7:33 of the first period after Pacioretty used a soccer-style kick to pass the puck to Stone, who fired it into the net from the left circle.
Smith extended the lead to 2-0 at 6:22 of the second period, scoring on a breakaway set up by a pass from Schmidt.
Granlund cut the deficit for Nashville 39 seconds later, redirecting a pass from Josi to make it 2-1. Ellis then tied the game at 2-2, sliding the puck into an open net after a fake shot lured Subban out of position.
“It would have been nice to keep our little streak going,” Ellis said. “But it happens, and we’ve got to move on.”
Saros made 26 saves in his third consecutive start for Nashville.
Game Notes:
- Nashville forward Kyle Turris was a healthy scratch for the fifth straight game.
- Vegas is 1-1-2 when tied after two periods this season.
- The Golden Knights are 2-4-1 against Central Division teams.
- Vegas has not scored a power-play goal in its last four games.
- Subban improved to 3-1-0 in his career against Nashville.
UP NEXT:
- Golden Knights: Host the Arizona Coyotes on Friday.
- Predators: Visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.
