The Nashville Predators didn’t just survive Friday night against the Vegas Golden Knights - they kept the streak rolling and pushed it to seven with a resilient shootout win. That’s now one shy of the franchise mark, and for a team that fell behind 2-1, the response said plenty about where the group is right now.
Ryan O’Reilly put it plainly afterward, as reported by Brooks Bratten via X:
"Going into that third period only down one, you could just feel that we’re going to find a way... No one went on their own page or tried to do it themselves. We stuck to it and built it, and it’s something that’s impressive to see,"
That kind of composure mattered, because Nashville could have easily let the game slip away once Vegas grabbed the lead. Instead, the Predators stayed connected and found a way through.
O’Reilly’s line delivered in a big spot
The Predators’ top-six has been functioning more like a 1A and 1B setup, but on this night the Ryan O’Reilly, Mavrik Bourque and Steven Stamkos line looked like the headliner. Filip Forsberg’s unit with Shane Wright and Nils Hoglander has been driving things lately, but O’Reilly’s group took charge against Vegas.
O’Reilly opened the scoring for Nashville, then came back after the Golden Knights had moved in front and buried the tying goal. Roman Josi and Adam Wilsby picked up the assists on that one, and the pair at the back helped set the table for the captain’s equalizer.
That’s the dangerous part for opponents: if one of Nashville’s top lines is rolling, the Predators are a problem. If both are rolling, the ceiling gets even higher.
Saros keeps stacking elite nights
Juuse Saros is on one of those stretches that changes games before they even get to the third period. His recent run already included a third-star-of-the-week nod last week, then he followed it with a shutout against the Los Angeles Kings and 40 saves in Friday night’s victory.
That’s Vezina Trophy form, plain and simple. Right now, no goalie has been hotter over the last two weeks.
And if Nashville keeps getting that level of goaltending, the rest of the league has to take the Predators seriously every night.
Josi keeps cashing in when it matters
Roman Josi has never been a normal defenseman, and Friday was another reminder of why. He’s long been one of the league’s best blueliners because he can defend, create and finish, and he added another shootout winner to the list.
Forwards usually get those chances, but Josi keeps getting the call and keeps delivering. He’s now scored on eight of his 25 shootout attempts, and he came through again with the deciding goal against Vegas.
In Other News...
Predators Winning Streak Put Brunette In A Tough Lineup Spot
The Predators have found their footing at the right time, and the timing has created a good problem for Andrew Brunette. Nashvilles six-game winning streak has come while Jonathan Marchessault has been out with an injury and Nicolas Hague has been sitting as a healthy scratch, leaving the coach with a lineup that has settled in and started to win without two veterans who were expected to be part of the mix.
Marchessaults season has been limited by modest production, while Hague had been struggling before he was scratched, which makes the next move even trickier. Brunette has to decide how to bring them back into the picture without disrupting the chemistry and pace the Predators have built during this run, and those choices could be just as important as the wins themselves. [Read more 🡒]
Predators Hot Start Just Complicated Nashvilles Long-Term Forward Plans
The Predators fast start has given new management plenty to like, but it has also sharpened the questions hanging over the forward group. Under GM Chris MacFarland, Nashville has already remade much of its roster, and the early returns have been encouraging with six straight wins and a spot near the top of the division. The emphasis has been on tightening things up defensively, while the front office takes stock of how the newcomers fit into the bigger picture.
Jonathan Marchessault, Ryan OReilly and Steven Stamkos are all part of that longer conversation, even if nothing appears close to happening right away. Nashville is still in the evaluation phase, weighing the value of established veterans against the direction of the roster and the way the team has opened the season. For now, the Predators can enjoy the results on the ice, but the way this forward group looks a few months from now remains very much an open question. [Read more 🡒]
Predators Streak Faces Its Toughest Test Yet Against Vegas
The Predators keep rolling into one of the leagues more demanding matchups, carrying a six-game winning streak into a visit from Vegas. Nashville has also gotten an offensive boost from newly acquired Shane Wright, while Juuse Saros is expected to get the start after another strong season in goal. Its the kind of stretch that can start to tell you a lot about a team, and this one has a chance to say plenty.
Vegas is hardly an easy landing spot for a hot streak, either. The Golden Knights have won four straight after shaking off a recent slump and are coming off a 5-3 victory, so both clubs arrive with momentum and some confidence in their game. The betting market points to a tight, lower-scoring night, which fits the way these teams have been trending, but the bigger question is whether Nashville can keep the run going against a team that has found its footing again. [Read more 🡒]