The Vegas Golden Knights didn’t just get even-they sent a message.
Two weeks after getting doubled up by the Nashville Predators on New Year’s Eve, Vegas returned the favor in emphatic fashion with a 7-2 win that looked every bit like a team rediscovering its identity. The Golden Knights entered Saturday’s rematch riding a six-game winning streak, and they left with a seventh straight victory-and a little revenge in their back pocket.
This one wasn’t close. Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, and Pavel Dorofeyev all found the back of the net, giving Vegas a trio of offensive sparks.
But it didn’t stop there. Shea Theodore, Cole Reinhardt, Keegan Kolesar, and yes, Alexander Holtz also lit the lamp.
That’s right-Holtz got in on the action, and for a player still finding his footing in Vegas, every goal counts. This one was a reminder of what he’s capable of when things start to click.
For Nashville, it was a tale of two goaltending performances. Justus Annunen held strong through the first two periods, keeping the Predators within striking distance.
But the dam finally broke in the third, when the Golden Knights’ relentless pressure proved too much. Vegas peppered Annunen with 36 shots, and eventually, the floodgates opened.
On the other side, Akira Schmid was steady when it mattered most. He turned aside 27 of 29 shots, giving the Golden Knights the kind of dependable goaltending they’ve been searching for all season. He wasn’t flashy, but he was effective-using his size and positioning to frustrate Nashville shooters and give his team a chance to build momentum.
That’s the kind of performance that earns trust in the crease. For a team that’s dealt with its fair share of inconsistency between the pipes, Schmid’s effort was a welcome sight. If he can build on this and embrace the role of a pressure-tested netminder, the Golden Knights might just have something brewing in goal.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The Golden Knights still showed some of the same bad habits that have haunted them this season-namely, costly turnovers in their own zone. Early in the first period, a defensive zone miscue turned into a golden opportunity for Roman Josi and Luke Evangelista, and Nashville made them pay.
That kind of mistake has been a recurring issue for Vegas. Loose puck management and rushed exits have led to high-danger chances, and against teams with speed and structure-like the Predators-those mistakes get magnified. If they were playing a team like Colorado or Dallas, you can bet those turnovers would’ve ended up on the scoreboard even faster.
It’s something Bruce Cassidy and his staff have to tighten up, especially with the postseason in sight. You can’t afford to hand opponents goals in the playoffs. Vegas has the firepower to outscore mistakes on most nights, but come spring, those mistakes get a lot more costly.
Still, it’s hard to ignore what the Golden Knights are doing right now. Seven straight wins.
Balanced scoring. Steady goaltending.
And a team that looks like it’s starting to peak at the right time.
The New Year’s Eve loss to Nashville may have stung, but it looks like Vegas used it as fuel. And on Saturday night, they made sure the Predators felt every bit of that fire.