Phil Kessel, William Carrier, and Chandler Stephenson each recorded a goal and an assist, propelling the Vegas Golden Knights to a 5-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.
After losing four straight and seven of their last eight, the Golden Knights bounced back in their first game since January 28th. Michael Amadio and Alex Pietrangelo also found the net for Vegas, and Adin Hill made 16 saves.
“It’s tight in the West, so you’ve got to make these games count,” said Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy. “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 really sound going toward the end of the year.”
Matt Duchene scored Nashville’s lone goal in the first period, while Juuse Saros, Nashville’s All-Star representative, stopped 25 shots. The Predators entered the All-Star break, winning three straight and five of their last six.
“We weren’t good in many facets, and there’s no excuses for it,” said Nashville coach John Hynes. “The other team had a break too, and tonight it wasn’t good.”
Hill faced four shots in the first period and two in the second. Nashville’s previous low for shots in a game this season was 18, which was also Vegas’ previous low for shots allowed.
“That game was kind of weird in the sense that it wasn’t like they had no zone time,” Hill said. “There were pucks missing the net, hitting bodies in front so that I could stay in it pretty easily. It wasn’t like there were any long stretches of play where I didn’t have any action in my end.”
Duchene’s 15th goal of the season put Nashville in front at 5:04, but Vegas answered with three goals in the first period.
“We didn’t deserve to win tonight,” Duchene admitted. “We beat ourselves more than they beat us. That’s the story.”
Amadio and Carrier scored 27 seconds apart, and Kessel made it 3-1 at 11:58.
“It was a good response to keep the game tight, and (we) came out of that first period with a 3-1 lead is good for us,” Carrier said.
SHOT SUPPRESSION
Nashville narrowly avoided setting franchise records for the fewest shots on goal. They managed two shots in the second period, just one above the franchise record for the fewest shots in a period. The Predators have had only one shot on goal in a period on four occasions, the last being December 8, 2008. Their record for the fewest shots in a game is nine, set on January 27, 2001.
SUCCESS AGAINST NASHVILLE
Stephenson has two goals and three assists in two games against Nashville this season. In 10 career games against the Predators, he has tallied six goals and eight assists.
WHITECLOUD BACK
Vegas defenseman Zach Whitecloud returned to the lineup after missing 21 games due to a lower-body injury.
UP NEXT
- Predators: Visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
- Golden Knights: Visit the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
