The Nashville Predators visit the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 31.

The Predators beat the Utah Mammoth 4-3 on Dec. 29 behind Steven Stamkos’ two third-period goals. Stamkos is up to 17 goals on the season and is now one away from 600 in his career.

Nashville (17-17-4, 38 points) is in fifth place in the Central Division and three points behind the San Jose Sharks for the final wild card spot.

Vegas (17-9-11, 45 points) have lost six of their last 10 games, including a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 29. The Golden Knights are in second place in the Pacific Division, one point behind Edmonton.

Jack Eichel leads the Golden Knights with 12 goals and 29 assists, but is a game-time decision (illness) against the Predators.

The goaltending matchup will feature Justus Annunen for the Predators and Akira Schmid for the Golden Knights.

WORLD JUNIORS: Predators draft picks Brady Martin, Ryker Lee getting noticed at World Juniors

It’s been an impressive response from Nashville after the early 2-0 deficit. Goals by Nick Perbix, Steven Stamkos, Reid Schaefer and Michael Bunting have the Predators ahead 4-2 after 40 minutes.

Nashville leads in shots 16-13.

The target of Kolesar’s ire, Michael Bunting, put the Predators ahead 4-2 on the power play. He deflects a long shot from Nick Blankenburg into the net late in the four-minute power play.

The Predators are rolling over the Golden Knights here in the second period.

Wild moment midway through the second period. Michael Bunting collides with Brayden McNabb in the neutral zone, causing McNabb to leave the game. Then Keegan Kolesar goes after Bunting near the Predators’ bench and gets called for roughing, slashing, and a game misconduct.

The Predators are getting a four minute power play out of this.

Seven seconds into the second period, Michael McCarron took a big hit from Jeremy Lauzon in the neutral zone. The officials reviewed it for a potential major penalty, but ended up calling no penalty on the play.

McCarron left the ice and went to the locker room.

After a huge momentum boost on the Stamkos goal, Cole Smith deflected a Reid Schaefer shot to put Nashville up 3-2.

This game turned around quickly, it was all Vegas early on. But the Stamkos power play goal to tie it really changed everything.

What a moment for Steven Stamkos. He scores on the power play to tie the game, scoring the 600th goal of his career.

An excellent pass from Filip Forsberg set it up, too.

After Ben Hutton tipped a Tomas Hertl shot to give Vegas a 2-0 lead, it looked like it would be a long day for Nashville. But Nick Perbix scored his third goal of the season, beating Schmid from distance to make it 2-1.

There’s not a lot working for Nashville early, but there’s a lot of hockey left.

An early penalty to Erik Haula leads to power play goal for Vegas. Mark Stone deflects home a pass from Pavel Dorofeyev to make it 1-0 Golden Knights.

It’s been all Vegas to start this one.

Here’s how the Predators will lineup against the Golden Knights

Filip Forsberg – Ryan O’Reilly – Steven Stamkos

Michael Bunting – Erik Haula – Luke Evangelista

Tyson Jost – Fedor Svechkov – Matthew Wood

Reid Schaefer – Michael McCarron – Cole Smith

Defense:

Roman Josi – Nick Perbix

Brady Skjei – Adam Wilsby

Nicolas Hague – Nick Blankenburg

Goaltender: Justus Annunen

The Nashville Predators vs. Vegas Golden Knights game will be televised by FanDuel Sports Network. Streaming is available via FUBO and ESPN+ (outside of the Nashville TV market).

Odds according to BetMGM on Wednesday, Dec. 31

PUCK LINE:  Predators +1.5 at -155, Golden Knights -1.5 at +125O/U:  6 goalsMONEY LINE: Predators +155, Golden Knights -190

All times Central; Games on FanDuel Sports Network South unless otherwise noted

Record: 17-17-4, 38 points

October

Oct. 9: Columbus Blue Jackets, W 2-1Oct. 11: Utah Mammoth, L (OT) 3-2Oct. 13: at Ottawa Senators, W 4-1Oct. 14: at Toronto Maple Leafs, L 7-4Oct. 16: at Montreal Canadiens, L (OT) 3-2Oct. 18: at Winnipeg Jets, L 4-1Oct. 21: Anaheim Ducks, L 5-2Oct. 23: Vancouver Canucks, W 2-1Oct. 25: Los Angeles Kings, W 5-4 (SO)Oct. 26: Dallas Stars, L 3-2Oct. 28: Tampa Bay Lightning, L 5-2Oct. 30: at Philadelphia Flyers, L 4-1

November

Nov. 1: Calgary Flames, W 4-2Nov. 3: Vancouver Canucks, L 5-4 OTNov. 4: at Minnesota Wild, L 3-2 OTNov. 6: Philadelphia Flyers, L 3-1Nov. 8: Dallas Stars, L 5-4Nov. 10: at New York Rangers, L 6-3Nov. 14: Pittsburgh Penguins W, 2-1 OTNov. 16: at Pittsburgh Penguins L, 4-0Nov. 22: Colorado Avalanche, L 3-0Nov. 24: Florida Panthers, L 8-3Nov. 26: at Detroit Red Wings, W 6-3Nov. 28: at Chicago Blackhawks, W 4-3Nov. 29: Winnipeg Jets, L 5-2

December

Dec. 2: Calgary Flames, W 5-1Dec. 4: at Florida Panthers, W 2-1 OTDec. 6: at Carolina Hurricanes, L 6-3Dec. 9: Colorado Avalanche, W 4-3 SODec. 11: St. Louis Blues, W 7-2Dec. 13: at Colorado Avalanche, L 4-2Dec. 15: at St. Louis Blues, W 5-2Dec. 17: Carolina Hurricanes, L 4-1Dec. 20: Toronto Maple Leafs, W 5-3Dec. 21: New York Rangers, W 2-1Dec. 23: at Minnesota Wild, W 3-2 OTDec. 27: at St. Louis Blues, L 3-2Dec. 29: at Utah Mammoth, W 4-3Dec. 31: at Vegas Golden Knights

January

Jan. 1: at Seattle KrakenJan. 3: at Calgary FlamesJan. 6: at Edmonton OilersJan. 8: New York IslandersJan. 10: Chicago BlackhawksJan. 11: Washington CapitalsJan. 13: Edmonton OilersJan. 16: at Colorado AvalancheJan. 17: at Vegas Golden KnightsJan. 20: Buffalo SabresJan. 22: Ottawa SenatorsJan. 24: Utah MammothJan. 27: at Boston BruinsJan. 29: at New Jersey DevilsJan. 31: at New York Islanders

February

Feb. 2: St. Louis BluesFeb. 4: Minnesota WildFeb. 5: at Washington CapitalsFeb. 26: Chicago BlackhawksFeb. 28: at Dallas Stars

March

March 2: Detroit Red WingsMarch 3: at Columbus Blue JacketsMarch 5: Boston BruinsMarch 7: at Buffalo SabresMarch 10: at Seattle KrakenMarch 12: at Vancouver CanucksMarch 15: at Edmonton OilersMarch 17: at Winnipeg JetsMarch 19: Seattle KrakenMarch 21: Vegas Golden KnightsMarch 22: at Chicago BlackhawksMarch 24: San Jose SharksMarch 26: New Jersey DevilsMarch 28: Montreal CanadiensMarch 29: at Tampa Bay Lightning

April

April 2: at Los Angeles KingsApril 4: at San Jose SharksApril 6: at Los Angeles KingsApril 7: at Anaheim DucksApril 9: at Utah Hockey ClubApril 11: Minnesota WildApril 13: San Jose SharksApril 16: Anaheim Ducks

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