The Nashville Predators travel to Las Vegas to face the Golden Knights in a Western Conference clash to close out the year. While the defending champions are favored at home, they enter the contest on a skid and are dealing with significant injuries, while the visiting Predators have been one of the hotter teams in the league over their last ten games.

1. Game Overview

Matchup: Nashville Predators at Vegas Golden KnightsDate: Sunday, December 31Time: 3:00 PM ESTLocation: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV

2. Team Form and Analysis

Nashville Predators

The Predators enter this matchup in strong form, posting a record of 7-3-0 over their last 10 games. They recently snapped a three-game losing streak with a decisive victory over the Red Wings, showcasing an offense that can erupt for goals, as they did with five in the third period of that contest. In a recent trade, the Predators acquired defenseman Nicolas Hague from the Golden Knights, sending Jeremy Lauzon and Colton Sissons to Vegas. Nashville has historically played Vegas tough, though they trail in the all-time head-to-head series, with Vegas winning 12 of the 21 matchups.

Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights have cooled off considerably after a hot stretch earlier in the month. The team is just 5-2-3 in its last 10 contests and has struggled recently with a record of 1-3-1 over its last five games. This includes a recent 4-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on December 27. The Golden Knights have relied on their home-ice advantage in the past, but their offense will be tested as they are now without their leading goal-scorer. The recent acquisition of defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and center Colton Sissons from Nashville aims to bolster their depth as they navigate a difficult part of their schedule.

3. Injury Report

Both teams are dealing with injuries to key players.

Nashville Predators:The provided search results did not contain specific information on key injuries for the Predators heading into this game.

Vegas Golden Knights:The Golden Knights will be without their top goal-scorer, Tomas Hertl, who is sidelined with an injury. Hertl leads the team with 31 goals this season, and his absence is a major blow to their offense. There are also lingering health concerns surrounding veteran defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. Additionally, goalie Calvin Pickard was reported as dealing with an undisclosed injury recently. The status of superstar center Jack Eichel, who recently missed time, will also be critical to watch.

Full Injury Report

4. Betting Odds Breakdown

• Moneyline: The Golden Knights are the clear favorites at -200, meaning a bettor would need to wager $200 to win $100. The Predators are listed as +164 underdogs, where a $100 wager would return a profit of $164.
• Spread: The point spread for this game was not available in the provided search results.
• Total (Over/Under): The over/under goal total for this game was not available in the provided search results.

5. Prediction

While the Vegas Golden Knights are heavy favorites on the moneyline and have the advantage of playing at T-Mobile Arena, the underlying factors point toward a potential upset. Vegas is in a significant slump, having won just once in their last five games, and they are now forced to play without their leading goal-scorer, Tomas Hertl.

Conversely, Nashville is playing confident hockey with a 7-3-0 record in their last ten outings. The Predators have momentum and are facing an opponent at a vulnerable moment. Given Vegas’s recent struggles and the crucial absence of Hertl, the value lies with the underdog. Expect a competitive game, but the Predators’ current form gives them the edge to pull off the road win.

Prediction: Nashville Predators 4, Vegas Golden Knights 3

Sources:
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Vegas Golden Knights vs Nashville Predators History
Stanley Cup … – NHL.com Media Site – News – NHL Morning Skate
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