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Vegas Golden Knights: Three-must win games on last leg of road trip

By Andrew Steele-Davis

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 27: Matt Irwin #52 of the Nashville Predators battles for the puck against Tomas Nosek #92 of the Vegas Golden Knights at Bridgestone Arena on November 27, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 27: Matt Irwin #52 of the Nashville Predators battles for the puck against Tomas Nosek #92 of the Vegas Golden Knights at Bridgestone Arena on November 27, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 27: Viktor Arvidsson #33 of the Nashville Predators reacts after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period of a 5-2 Leafs victory at Bridgestone Arena on January 27, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 27: Viktor Arvidsson #33 of the Nashville Predators reacts after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period of a 5-2 Leafs victory at Bridgestone Arena on January 27, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

2. Golden Knights @ Nashville Predators, Feb. 1

Like the Vegas Golden Knights, the Nashville Predators have failed to live up to expectations so far this year and they are currently punching well below their weight.

With a record of 22-19-7, the Preds were thumped 5-2 by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday in their return from the All-Star Break.

Despite bringing in John Hynes as their new Head Coach, a fresh face hasn’t really shifted the momentum with Nashville slumping badly.

They are in serious danger of missing the postseason and that sobering reality is looking more and more likely given that they are bottom of the Central Division.

It is shocking given the abundance of talent that is on that Nashville roster, including Captain Roman Josi who leads the team in points with 48 (14 goals, 34 assists).

And therein lies part of the problem. Two of the Predators’ top four point scorers are defensemen, with Ryan Ellis being the other with 28 points (six goals, 22 assists).

Center Matt Duchene, who was the big off-season acquisition for Nashville, has 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points in 45 games, but too many players are underperforming.

As such, the Golden Knights need to take advantage of the bottom feeders in the NHL and it is imperative that they escape from Nashville with two points on Saturday.

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