Exciting Matchup as Nashville Predators Take on Vegas Golden Knights to Ring in the New Year
As the Nashville Predators gear up to face the Vegas Golden Knights on New Year’s Eve, they aim to end the year on a high note. This encounter, scheduled for 2 PM CST at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, marks the initial clash of three this season between the teams. The matchup is especially notable, as it’s the first since last June’s trade involving defenseman Nicolas Hague, who moved from Vegas to Nashville in exchange for Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon.
After this match, the Predators will take on the Golden Knights again on January 17 at 9 PM at T-Mobile Arena, followed by a final confrontation back in Nashville on March 21 at 1 PM at the Bridgestone Arena.
Stamkos Shines in Key Win for Predators
In their recent game against the Utah Mammoth, Steven Stamkos showcased his exceptional talent by scoring two crucial goals in the third period, leading Nashville to a narrow 4-3 victory on the road. With this performance, Stamkos not only maintains his position as the team’s leading scorer with 17 goals but also inches closer to a personal milestone, standing just one goal away from reaching 600 career goals in the NHL. His impressive run in December sees him ranked third league-wide with 11 goals, trailing only superstars Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.
At 35 years old, Stamkos has managed to achieve a remarkable feat, becoming the second player in Predators history to secure the winning goal in four consecutive games, following the legacy left by Mike Fisher.
Predators Seek Consistency
The Predators are on the hunt to surpass the .500 mark for the first time since October 25. They narrowly missed this opportunity against the St. Louis Blues, suffering a 3-2 loss on Saturday. Despite this setback, Nashville has claimed victory in 11 of their last 16 games and boasts a strong offensive presence, averaging 3.38 goals per game—ninth best in the NHL this December.
Ryan O’Reilly, who assisted on both of Stamkos’ goals, is currently the team leader in points with 34, which includes 11 goals and 23 assists. Filip Forsberg follows closely with 16 goals and 30 points, while rookie Luke Evangelista has been instrumental with 21 assists and 27 points this season. Goalkeeper Juuse Saros holds a record of 15 wins and 12 losses with 3 overtime losses in net, supported by Justus Annunen‘s contributions.
Golden Knights Looking to Rebound
On the opposing side, the Vegas Golden Knights are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild and have experienced a sharp decline, losing five out of their last six matches. Interestingly, Vegas holds a favorable New Year’s Eve record, having won four of five games historically on this date.
Jack Eichel leads the Golden Knights with 41 points, thanks to his 12 goals and 29 assists. Following him is Mitch Marner, who has tallied 40 points through 9 goals and 31 assists. Additionally, both Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev have contributed 15 goals each. Newcomer Colton Sissons has found some success with 3 goals and 5 points since joining the Knights, while Jeremy Lauzon has provided 5 assists and amassed a notable 37 penalty minutes for his new team.
In the crease, Carter Hart stands with a record of 4 wins, 2 losses, and 3 overtime losses since signing with Vegas, while Akira Schmid has excelled this season with an 11-3-4 record. This matchup promises to deliver excitement as both teams look to make a statement to kick off 2026.
