Opinion
3 min read

Knights and Predators Clash in Sin City Showdown at T-Mobile Arena

As the Vegas Golden Knights prepare to host the Nashville Predators at the T-Mobile Arena, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be a thrilling encounter. The VGK have been on a rollercoaster ride of performances lately, but there's every reason to believe that they could turn their fortunes around in this upcoming game.


Apr 4, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) makes a save during the second period against the Vegas Golden Knights at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

In their last three games, VGK's results have been mixed. On December 23rd against the Florida Panthers, despite delivering 21 hits and blocking an impressive 21 shots, they fell short with a shooting percentage of just eight percent. Their powerplay opportunities didn't translate into goals, and ultimately they lost with two goals to Florida's four.


However, looking back at their December 22nd game against Tampa Bay Lightning gives us a glimpse of what VGK is capable of when they're firing on all cylinders. They notched up four goals from 34 shots – translating into a solid twelve percent shooting success rate – and managed one powerplay goal from four opportunities. Despite this strong offensive display, it was not enough as Tampa Bay edged them out by one goal in a high-scoring affair.


Apr 4, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Cody Glass (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal to beat the Vegas Golden Knights at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The most recent outing for VGK was against the Carolina Hurricanes on December 20th where they showed both resilience and vulnerability. They won fifty-seven percent of faceoffs but were let down by their penalty kill as Carolina capitalized three times during powerplays.


What stands out from these past performances is that when VGK controls the faceoff circle and capitalizes on powerplay chances while maintaining defensive solidity through blocked shots and hits, they can dominate games. However, consistency has been elusive.


Apr 4, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) falls over Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) in the crease during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Nashville Predators will not make things easy for them; known for their gritty playstyle and ability to grind out results. But if VGK can harness their strengths – particularly improving their special teams' performance both offensively during powerplays and defensively when shorthanded – there's no doubt that victory could be within reach.


Fans should expect an intense battle where every shift counts; especially considering how closely matched these two teams are statistically speaking in recent encounters. It will likely come down to which team can better execute under pressure while minimizing mistakes.


Mark your calendars for February 21st as Vegas Golden Knights take on Nashville Predators at T-Mobile Arena starting at 7:00 PM PST (10:00 PM EST). The game promises excitement and you won't want to miss it! Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+ nationally or tune into BSSO channel 646-1 if you're cheering from away territories or SCRIPPS if you're supporting from home.

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