Predators Survive Late Rally to Defeat Golden Knights, 5-3

Steven Stamkos had two goals and an assist to lead the Nashville Predators past the Vegas Golden Knights for a 5-3 win Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena.

The Predators were in complete control with a 4-0 lead until Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice for Vegas in a five minute span in the second period. Dorofeyev went on to complete the first hat trick of his NHL career, and bring the score within one, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

Justus Annunen made 19 saves in goal to earn his fourth win as a member of the Predators. Ilya Samsonov made 18 saves for the Golden Knights, who have lost three of their last four.

The Predators, who had lost two in a row and five of their last seven, moved to 14-22-7 on the season with the win, which was the 1,000th in franchise history.

How the Predators lined up vs. Vegas

Forsberg-Stamkos-Marchessault
Nyquist-O’Reilly-Hinostroza
L’Heureux-Svechkov-Novak
Jankowski-McCarron-Sissons

Josi-Barron
Skjei-Blankenburg
Stastney-Schenn

Annunen
Saros

Extra: Evangelista (inj.), Bellows

IR: Smith, Wilsby, Lauzon

Game Summary

The first period of this one was one of the best periods of hockey the Predators have played all season. Nashville had registered 10 shots on goal before Vegas had even managed one, which came from Shea Theodore with just over two minutes remaining in the frame.

The Predators jumped out to an early lead at 9:44 of the first period, when Jonathan Marchessault knocked the puck into the crease on a wraparound attempt and Stamkos punched it in for his 13th goal of the season. Forsberg made it 2-0 at 12:06 of the period with a quick shot off the draw to beat Ilya Samsonov, who did not appear ready to make the save.

Justin Barron padded Nashville’s lead in the second period with his first goal as a member of the Predators, burying a slap shot off a pass from Roman Josi to make it 3-0 at the 5:29 mark. Stamkos buried his second goal of the night at 8:41 of the middle frame with a wrist shot off a pass from Jonathan Marchessault behind the net to make it 4-0.

Vegas got on the board just 30 seconds later, when Dorofeyev scored his first of the night on a cross-crease pass from Victor Olofsson to cut the deficit to 4-1. Then, with Vinnie Hinostroza in the box for high-sticking against Samsonov, it took Dorofeyev just seven seconds into the Golden Knights’ first power play opportunity to strike again and cut Nashville’s lead in half to 4-2 at 14:02.

The Predators held Vegas without another goal for the rest of the second period, successfully killing off a Stamkos tripping penalty to end the frame.

Dorofeyev completed the hat trick at 15:19 of the third period to bring the Golden Knights within one, but Ryan O’Reilly scored into the empty net as the clock expired for the 5-3 final.

Key Takeaways & Notes

Forsberg, who snapped his 18-game goal drought Tuesday vs. Winnipeg, now has goals in three consecutive games. He is one goal away from becoming the ninth Swedish player in NHL history to score 300 career goals.
With an assist on Stamkos’ second goal, Marchessault now has 19 points (9 goals, 10 assists) in his last 15 games. He leads the Predators in goals this season with 14.
Marchessault had an assist in his first game against the Golden Knights since signing a five-year, $27.5 million contract with the Predators on July 1. He spent the previous seven seasons with Vegas, and helped the Golden Knights win their first Stanley Cup championship in 2023.
Stamkos registered his 99th career multi-goal game. Stamkos can become the 26th player in NHL history to record 100 multi-goal games and would join Alex Ovechkin (177) and Sidney Crosby (103) as the only active players to achieve the feat.

Up Next

The Predators continue their five-game homestand Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The puck drops at 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast regionally on FanDuel Sports Network South and on ESPN+ for out-of-market customers in the United States.

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