NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators open a three-game homestand Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights at Bridgestone Arena after collecting four of a possible six points on a three-game Canadian road trip.
The Predators have been off since Saturday, when they fell 3-2 to the Ottawa Senators in a shootout. Vegas will be completing a back-to-back road set after taking a 4-2 loss against the Minnesota Wild on Monday in Saint Paul, Minn., a result that ended a four-game Golden Knights winning streak.
The Predators went 1-0-2 on their Canadian trek, which began when they squandered an early three-goal lead in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 6. Nashville overcame a two-goal second-period deficit two nights later by scoring the final five goals in a 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. On Saturday, Nashville jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Drake Batherson forced overtime for the Senators by scoring with 1:23 left in regulation.
Forward Jonathan Marchessault, who scored Nashville second goal Saturday, said after the Ottawa game that the team has eased off late and let opponents back in, and that closing out games matters because points are hard to get over a full season.
In Saint Paul, Matt Boldy, Maxim Shabanov, Danila Yurov and Joel Eriksson Ek scored for Minnesota, and Carter Hart made 24 saves for Vegas. Rasmus Andersson and William Karlsson scored for the Golden Knights, who fell to 5-2-0. Vegas power play came up empty, including two chances in the third period.
Nashville won two of three games last season against Vegas, including a 4-1 victory on March 21 in the lone matchup at Nashville. Steven Stamkos had two goals and an assist in that contest.
