Knights snap two-game skid in OT

The Vegas Golden Knights closed out 2022 on a winning note as they beat the Nashville Predators, 5-4, in overtime on New Years Eve inside T-Mobile Arena. Vegas is now a perfect 4-0-0 on New Years Eve games, outscoring their opponent 19-10 during that time.

“It was a grind to get through it, but we got the two points,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “It showed some real resiliency in the whole group to stay with it. You don’t want to give up a lead in the third ever, but sometimes it happens and tonight it was good for us to keep our heads on straight after they scored and get back to it in overtime.”

Vegas defenseman Nicolas Hague scored the game winning goal with 2:56 to go in the overtime period. Vegas is now 8-2 this year in games that go to overtime.

“I leaned into it [the game-winning goal],” Hague said. “I feel like I lean into all of them. That was just from a good spot. That one just laid nicely in there for me from [captain Mark] Stone. Just have to try and hit the net and see what happens and it ends up going in, which is nice.”

With the win, Vegas is now 25-12-2 on the season with 52 points to lead the Pacific Division by four points over the Los Angeles Kings. Vegas has the third most number of points in the league behind Carolina who has 54 and Boston’s 60.

The next time the Golden Knights will hit the ice will be Monday, Jan. 2 as they hit the road for a Western Conference showdown with the Colorado Avalanche from Ball Arena. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. and can be seen on AT&T Sportsnet.

Center Micheal Amadio extended his point streak to six games when he scored 1:43 into the second period to tie the game at two. During those six games, Amadio has racked up eight points (four goals, four assists).

“Just trying to play simple,” Amadio said. “Not trying to do too much. When the play is there, make it and when it’s not, get it deep.”

Assisting on Amadio’s goal was Stone again who also extended his point streak to five games. Stone has 10 points over the last five games (four goals, six assists). Stone finished the day with three points, all coming via assists, which marked the second time he has had three points in a game during this streak.

“A win’s a win,” Stone said, “We’ll take these two points and put them in the standings. We’re definitely happier with two than one.

The Knights started the game trailing 2-0 in the first 11 minutes of the contest. Vegas countered with four unanswered goals over the next 28:46 of the game.

A period that has been troublesome for the Knights all year has been the second period. Coming into the game, Vegas was -11 in the second period. The Knights won the second period versus Nashville, 2-0.

Forward Sheldon Rempal made his Golden Knights debut Saturday against Nashville. Rempal joined fellow forwards Jonas Rondbjerg and Jake Leschyshyn on the third line. Rempal skated a total of 7:44 in his VGK debut.

The Vegas power play was not able to score on the lone opportunity they had while the penalty kill went three-for-four, allowing a power play goal to forward Filip Forsberg.

Both goaltenders in this one had save percentages less than .900. Nashville goalie Kevin Lankinen finished his day with 27 saves on 32 shots faced for a final save percentage of .844. VGK goaltender Logan Thompson on the other end of the ice finished with 33 saves on 37 shots faced for a final save percentage of .892.