The Vegas Golden Knights saw a four-game winning streak disappear Friday night in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators, and Ryan O’Reilly was right in the middle of it again.
Vegas led 2-1 with three minutes left in regulation before Nashville pushed the game to overtime and then finished it in the shootout. O’Reilly scored twice for the Predators, Roman Josi scored the deciding shootout goal, and Adin Hill turned aside 30 shots in net for the Golden Knights before stopping two of four shootout attempts.
There was still a bright spot for Vegas in the form of Victor Olofsson. The Swedish forward scored his sixth goal of the season, and he’s done it in just eight games after missing time with an injury.
Elite Prospects has him on pace for 53 goals, which would pass William Karlsson’s franchise mark of 43. For a team that has leaned on Olofsson’s spark early, Friday only added to the idea that he’s been one of the key reasons behind the strong start.
The Golden Knights also came out with a shot volume that looked nothing like a sleepy night. They piled up a season-high 19 shots in the first period and reached 34 before the second intermission, with Juuse Saros forced to stay busy throughout.
Vegas averages 29.1 shots per game, so getting to that number before the third period was a notable shift. The pace cooled late, as the Golden Knights managed just seven shots in the third, but they still finished with 42 - their second-highest total of the season behind the 43 they put up against Toronto on Oct.
Ryan O’Reilly’s night was especially rough for Vegas because of the history he’s built against them. Entering the game, he was tied with Anze Kopitar for the most goals scored against the Golden Knights.
By the end of the night, he stood alone at the top after adding two more. His point total against Vegas climbed to 34, tying Leon Draisaitl for third all-time, and his plus-11 against the Golden Knights only deepened the damage.
Mark Stone also had a quiet night by his standards. He was held without a point for just the seventh time this season, leaving him at 416 points and one shy of Jonathan Marchessault for the franchise scoring lead. Marchessault did not play for Nashville because of an injury.
Vegas is now 1-0-1 on its five-game homestand, with the Vancouver Canucks coming to town Sunday. The Golden Knights close out the stretch next week with two games against the Dallas Stars.
In Other News...
Golden Knights Fans Will Feel Alex Tuchs Emotional Message
Alex Tuch recently shared a deeply personal note of gratitude for the medical staff at Sisters Hospital in Buffalo, praising the doctors and nurses who helped save his newborn son. The former Golden Knights winger, now with the Washington Capitals, said the hospital team gave his family the kind of care that changes everything, and the message carried extra weight for anyone who remembers Tuchs years in Vegas and Buffalo.
The story is a reminder that some of the most meaningful moments around an NHL career happen far away from the rink. Tuchs update offered a rare glimpse into the family side of the game, and it underscored just how much the support of a hospital staff can matter when a young life is hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Adin Hill Faces Added Pressure As Golden Knights Host Surging Predators
Adin Hill is set to get the net again as the Golden Knights welcome the Nashville Predators to T-Mobile Arena, a matchup that comes with a little more weight than a typical regular-season start. Hill has given Vegas a steady early-season lift, opening with a 7-2-0 record and better numbers than he posted a year ago, which has helped stabilize a team that continues to lean on strong goaltending as part of its identity.
The timing matters because Nashville arrives playing better hockey and the Golden Knights are also dealing with the usual pregame churn of projected lineups and injury updates on both sides. For Hill, this is another chance to reinforce that the early returns are real, and for Vegas, it is the kind of home game that can quietly shape how much pressure builds around the crease as the schedule moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Predators Streak Faces Its Toughest Test Yet Against Vegas
A hot Nashville team rolls into Las Vegas carrying real momentum, and the timing makes this one of the more intriguing matchups on the schedule. The Predators have steadied themselves with a six-game winning streak, and the recent addition of Shane Wright has given their attack another layer since he arrived.
Vegas, meanwhile, has answered its own rough patch with four straight wins, a stretch that has featured strong work from Ivan Barbashev and Victor Olofsson. The Golden Knights have started to look more like themselves again, which is why this meeting feels like a useful measuring stick for both clubs, especially with the betting market leaning toward a lower-scoring game. [Read more 🡒]