The Nashville Predators will face off against the Vegas Golden Knights in a much-anticipated New Year’s Eve matinee at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, bringing heightened excitement to fans and players alike. The game is set to begin at 2 PM CST and can be watched on the FanDuel Sports Network South or heard via 102.5 The Game radio.
This matchup marks the first of three encounters between the Predators and the Golden Knights this season, following a notable trade last June that sent defenseman Nicolas Hague from Vegas to Nashville in exchange for Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon. The teams will clash again on January 17, and their season series will conclude in Nashville on March 21.
In their last outing, the Predators aimed to capitalize on a strong performance from Steven Stamkos, who achieved a remarkable feat by scoring two third-period goals against the Utah Mammoth, helping Nashville secure a 4-3 victory. Stamkos, the Preds’ leading goal-scorer with 17 goals, is now just one goal away from reaching a milestone of 600 career goals in the NHL. His effort has played a substantial role in keeping the Predators competitive, as they now sit with a record of 11 wins in their last 16 games and have demonstrated a powerful offense, averaging 3.38 goals per game this December – a statistic that ranks them ninth in the league.
Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg are also crucial components of Nashville’s offensive strategy, with O’Reilly leading the team in points with 34 (11 goals, 23 assists) and Forsberg contributing with 16 goals and 30 points. Goaltender Juuse Saros continues to be a dependable presence in net with a record of 15-12-3.
On the other side, the Golden Knights are seeking to regain their momentum after suffering a 5-2 defeat against the Minnesota Wild and losing five of their last six games. However, Vegas has a solid track record on New Year’s Eve, boasting a 4-1-0 record in past games on this date. Jack Eichel remains the star of the Knights with 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists), while Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev have each contributed 15 goals to the team’s efforts.
As both teams prepare for this competitive matchup, fans can expect a thrilling game filled with significant implications for both standings and momentum as they usher in the New Year.