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Vegas Golden Knights: Three keys to beating the Predators

By Andrew Steele-Davis

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 12: Mikael Granlund #64 of the Nashville Predators celebrates his goal with Filip Forsberg #9 and Matt Duchene #95, to take a 1-0 lead over the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center on October 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 12: Mikael Granlund #64 of the Nashville Predators celebrates his goal with Filip Forsberg #9 and Matt Duchene #95, to take a 1-0 lead over the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center on October 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Tonight will pose the Vegas Golden Knights with another stern test with the Nashville Predators the visitors to T-Mobile Arena (7:00 p.m. PT).

It will act as a good measuring stick for the Vegas Golden Knights who are 4-2-0 on the year, while it will also serve as a litmus test for the Predators who are 3-2-0 through five games.

Both franchises have designs on the Stanley Cup and tonight’s matchup should be a mouthwatering slugfest where offense could rule the night.

The Golden Knights have been powered by their top two lines so far with Mark Stone leading the way with nine points (four goals, five assists), while Max Pacioretty is right behind him with two goals and six assists for eight points.

Nashville, meanwhile, have been boosted by the fine performances of free agency addition Matt Duchene, who is living up to his reputation with two goals and seven assists for nine points in five games.

Elite winger Filip Forsberg has clearly benefited from playing on Duchene’s line and he has four goals and three assists for seven points, while the Predators have gotten secondary scoring from a handful of their depth forwards.

Vegas are going all out for their third straight victory while the Predators are hoping to start building some momentum, and it should be a thrilling clash of the titans showdown.

Here are the three keys to the Vegas Golden Knights beating the Nashville Predators tonight:

NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 10: Ryan Johansen #92 and Viktor Arvidsson #33 of the Nashville Predators celebrate a goal against the Washington Capitals at Bridgestone Arena on October 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 10: Ryan Johansen #92 and Viktor Arvidsson #33 of the Nashville Predators celebrate a goal against the Washington Capitals at Bridgestone Arena on October 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

1. Shut Down Nashville’s Big Guns

Matt Duchene, Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, Viktor Arvidsson, Mikael Granlund, the list goes on when it comes to the offensive firepower the Nashville Predators have at their disposal.

They are stacked in both the offensive and defensive zones and they get contributions from their loaded blueline too, but it is the big hitters that will need to be shut down tonight.

Duchene has made a sensational start to life with the Predators and the second line featuring the center along with Filip Forsberg and Mikael Granlund has combined for 20 points in four games.

But the top line of Calle Jarnkrok, Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson has the potential to wreak havoc too and Johansen alone has seven points (two goals, five assists) on the year.

It isn’t rocket science to work out that the Vegas Golden Knights are going to have to put the shackles on Nashville’s plethora of offensive stars if they are to get the win tonight.

And, the Golden Knights can at least be confident that their last line of defense tonight will be Marc-Andre Fleury who has been sensational in five starts this year with a 2.13 GAA and a .933 Sv%.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 13: Jonathan Marchessault #81,Valentin Zykov #7 and Paul Stastny #26 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate Stastnys second second-period goal during the game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 13: Jonathan Marchessault #81,Valentin Zykov #7 and Paul Stastny #26 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate Stastnys second second-period goal during the game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2. Make Special Teams Count

You live and die by your special teams in hockey and, boy, are the Vegas Golden Knights living the high life right now.

In six games the Knights’ power play has been absolutely rolling and is currently ranked sixth in the NHL (30.0), including going a perfect 3-for-3 against the LA Kings on Sunday.

Boasting a top unit featuring Mark Stone, Paul Stastny, Max Pacioretty, Shea Theodore and rookie phenom Cody Glass, Vegas can also roll out a second unit containing William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith.

The first unit in particular has been red hot with Glass making all the difference due to his elite playmaking and ability to make plays and read the open ice.

Nashville’s penalty kill is currently ranked 25th in the NHL (71.4) which places extra important on the Knights making their man advantage count.

And Vegas’ penalty kill has been even better than the power play and it is ranked 1st in the NHL with a percentage of 95.5.

It has been sensational and that should continue tonight against the Predators’ 14th ranked Power Play (23.5), while the top PK unit of Karlsson and Smith can be relied upon to generate shorthanded chances like nobody’s business.

NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 10: Roman Josi #59 of the Nashville Predators brings the puck around the net against Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals at Bridgestone Arena on October 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 10: Roman Josi #59 of the Nashville Predators brings the puck around the net against Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals at Bridgestone Arena on October 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

3. Be Clinical

That sounds a rather vague headline but the meaning behind it is pretty simple – the Vegas Golden Knights are going to need to be ruthless in front of goal tonight.

The Nashville Predators, despite trading P.K. Subban to the New Jersey Devils during the off-season, still boast one of the deepest, strongest and loaded defensive units in the NHL, led by Captain Roman Josi.

Josi is an absolute horse on the blueline and not only is he elite in his own zone, but he can also produce offensively as backed up by his five points (two goals, three assists) so far this year.

Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm, Matt Irwin and even Dante Fabbro are mainstays of this blueline, and they provide intimidating opposition for most if not all offenses in the National Hockey League.

Not to mention the fact that the Predators have an elite goalie in Pekka Rinne, who is still capable of standing on his head and making a flurry of elite saves despite his advancing years.

Golden Knights must shut down Duchene. dark. Next

As a result, the Golden Knights are going to have to generate traffic to the net, get pucks on goal and get to the slot and make sure they convert when they have the chance.

Both teams are offensive juggernauts but the Predators have the pieces on defense to be able to shut things down, so the Vegas Golden Knights are going to have to be clinical and ruthless in front of goal when it counts.

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