Riley Smith defeated the third term deadlock, and the Vegas Golden Knights won a 3-1 road victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday for a six-game winning streak.
Jack Eychel and Brett Howden scored for the Pacific division’s lead Golden Knights (45-20-8, 98 points) in 15 games (11-2-2).
Goaltender Adin Hill made 23 saves in a solid goaltending battle that concluded the team’s perfect three-game road trip.
Ryan O’Reilly answered the predator (27-38-8, 62 points) who only won two wins in nine outings.
Goalkeeper Justus Anunen stopped Nashville’s 26 shots, which were eliminated from Stanley Cup playoff competition.
Smith defeated a 1-1 deadlock on the power play with his first goal since being acquired by the New York Rangers at a trade deadline. The first shot stopped, but the pack was surrounded by the air and tied up by Smith on the side of the net and tapped in easily. It was his first goal in 23 games.
The hosts pushed the equalizer and created some chances – Justin Baron’s biggest breakaway – but were unable to unlock Hill before Howden scored on the empty net with 44 seconds left.
Howden, who turned 27 on Saturday, has goals in three consecutive games.
After an opening frame opened with goals in a low event, the club traded its second term score.
O’Reilly’s power play goal scored at 5:53. After winning the offensive zone showdown, O’Reilly went to the net and deflected the point shot with his first goal in 12 matches.
Aychel answers at 8:26 of the period, tallying up chances for rebounds and running his point streak into six games. He has six goals and six assists in that period.
The predator moved forward to Colton Sisons, who had left during the first period, and after awkwardly fell, he was unable to put any weight on his left leg. He reportedly saw him leave the building on crutches.
– Field-level media
