Nashville Predators edge Vegas Golden Knights 1-0 in early game The Nashville Predators took an early lead against the Vegas Golden Knights, securing a 1-0 victory in their March 21 matchup at Bridgestone Arena. Steven Stamkos opened the scoring just 40 seconds into the game with a one-timer off the face-off, beating Akira Schmid to give Nashville the advantage. The Predators, ranked third in the Western Conference with 71 points, entered the game on a two-game winning streak, most recently defeating the Seattle Kraken 3-1 on March 19. Their playoff chances remain slim, with a 32.7% chance of making the postseason according to Money Puck. A win over the Golden Knights would boost that probability to 43.1%. Vegas, meanwhile, has struggled in recent weeks, suffering two consecutive shutouts. The Golden Knights dropped a 2-0 decision to the Buffalo Sabres on March 17 and a 4-0 loss to the Utah Mammoth on March 19. Their 3-7 record in their last 10 games has pushed them to third place in the Pacific Division. Jack Eichel leads the Golden Knights with 24 goals and 50 assists in 61 games, but the team’s recent performance has been inconsistent. The Predators’ goaltending situation remains uncertain, as Juuse Saros is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. If Saros is unavailable, Justus Annunen will start for the second consecutive game, with Matt Murray as the backup. The Predators’ early goal set the tone for the game, and Nashville’s defense held strong to secure the win. The result highlights the Predators’ ability to capitalize on opportunities, while the Golden Knights’ struggles continue to mount. The game was broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network, with streaming options available via FUBO and ESPN+ outside the Nashville market.#nashville_predators #bridgestone_arena #vegas_golden_knights #akira_schmid #jack_eichel
