The last time the Vegas Golden Knights faced off against the Nashville Predators, the Golden Knights had tons of missing pieces. There was no Jack Eichel or Adin Hill aboard, leading the Predators to score four unanswered goals. On top of that, Michael Bunting hits Brayden McNabb hard enough to knock him out of commission. The result? A 4-2 win for Nashville.
But now, the times have changed, my friend. Eichel and Hill are back in the fold, with the former kicking off a blazing January. We're talking about five goals and nine assists this month at the halfway point. Oh, and the Golden Knights are in first place and on a six-game winning streak.
But the more things change, the more they stay the same. You see, Nashville entered Friday's game against the Colorado Avalanche having won six of its last 10 games. They were three points out of a Western Conference playoff spot, leaving them to... suddenly believe? Gotta thank Barry Trotz for all that extracirricular activity.
Still, let's look at those differences and see how things have changed. These factors should help the Golden Knights put those pesky Predators in their place, showing them who's boss. "New Year, New Me," right?
1.) Jack Eichel takes over the game vs. the Nashville Predators
Jack Eichel has had good all-time numbers vs. the Nashville Predators. The superstar center has seven goals and 10 assists in 16 career games, making him a business-as-usual threat. Two games have seen him score more than one goal, once on January 24, 2017, and the other coming on December 12, 2019.
If you remember the New Year's Eve game, the Golden Knights were missing their superstar. That made life miserable for Vegas with the team struggling to enter the offensive zone and defend its own end.
The good news? He's back for this matchup, barring another cootie illness. The better news? He's having an excellent January that's leading the Golden Knights. Watch for him to take over Saturday's game. Speaking of returns...
2.) Shea Theodore will impact the game on both ends for the Vegas Golden Knights
Part of those zone entry struggles was because the Original Misfit wasn't around, either. Vegas couldn't generate anything after the first period, leaving them to lag behind because of a pestilent Nashville squad.
Luckily, Theodore also fixes that. He's great at running in transition and finding the open man, creating excellent scoring opportunities in the process. With the defenseman around, life gets much easier offensively for Vegas. You always want your best puck-movers hanging out, whether it's the Misfit, Eichel, or Stone.
3.) The Golden Knights power play overwhelms the Predators
The Nashville Predators have thrived on pixie dust, unicorn horns, and the power of friendship during their incredible stretch. Since November 25, 2025 (and before Friday's game), the Predators were 16-8-0 and inching closer to a playoff spot.
But the Golden Knights have seen their power play explode, scoring eight goals on 16 power play opportunities during their six-game winning streak. If Vegas can get more magic from Pavel Dorofeyev, Tomas Hertl, and Mark Stone, there's no reason to believe that they can halt Nashville's fairy tale run.