The Vegas Golden Knights (31-24-14) suffered their third straight loss when they fell 4-1 to the Nashville Predators (31-28-9) Saturday afternoon at Bridgestone Arena.

The Golden Knights led Nashville 40-20 in shots, but a lack of execution proved costly in another disappointing defeat.

The Predators scored three special-teams goals in the second period, which proved to be the difference in the game.

The Golden Knights delivered one of their best first-period efforts, outshooting the Predators 20-4 and leading 36-7 in shot attempts with a 93.32 percent expected goal share, per Natural Stat Trick.

However, it was Nashville that took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission after Steven Stamkos opened the scoring less than 40 seconds into the game with a snipe right off the faceoff.

Despite Vegas’ best efforts, the Golden Knights were unable to convert any of their chances, though they only trailed by one goal at the start of the second period.

The same was not true by the end of it, however.

In fact, it was a disastrous middle frame for Vegas, as the Predators added three more goals.

All four goals of the period, including all three of Nashville’s, were scored on special teams. Stamkos got things started with his second goal of the game on a Nashville power play just 1:24 into the period.

Down 2-0, the Golden Knights headed to the power play with a chance to make it a one-goal game. Instead, Nashville scored a backbreaking goal while shorthanded to make it 3-0.

Naturally, the Golden Knights scored just 1:14 after finding themselves down by three goals, as Shea Theodore’s power-play strike snapped a 21-game goal drought to make it 3-1 at 13:10.

It was Vegas’ first goal in 180 minutes and 19 seconds. In other words, it was the first time the Golden Knights lit the lamp in over three complete hockey games.

But Ryan O’Reilly scored on the power play less than two minutes later to make it 4-1 with just over five minutes remaining in the second period.

It was the first time since the 5-0 loss to Pittsburgh on March 1 that the Vegas penalty kill allowed two power-play goals.

The Golden Knights were the better team in the third period, and Akira Schmid made a clutch stop on a Filip Forsberg breakaway to keep the deficit at three. But Vegas was unable to break through.

Vegas pulled Schmid with 4:48 remaining, but the Golden Knights did not land a single shot in nearly five minutes with the extra attacker, falling 4-1.

The Golden Knights were better than they’ve been in recent games, and they had stretches where they were truly dominant, leading 40-20 in shots and 78-40 in shot attempts when all was said and done.

But at this point of the season, it really doesn’t matter. It was another multi-goal loss, and there are no points for effort at this time of year.

Ultimately, special teams let the Golden Knights down in Saturday’s matinee. In particular, Jost’s shorthanded goal was a killer. The Golden Knights had a chance to make it a one-goal game; instead, Nashville extended its lead to three. While Theodore’s tally made it a two-goal game shortly thereafter, the Jost goal proved to be too deflating to overcome.

The Golden Knights finished 1-for-4 on the man-advantage (while yielding a shorthanded goal) and finished 2-for-4 on the penalty kill, which has otherwise been excellent for Vegas in recent weeks. The Golden Knights also had no answers with nearly five minutes of time with the extra man to end regulation.

The Golden Knights lost this game in the second period, where Nashville accounted for 84.81 percent of the expected goal share and led 12-3 in scoring chances, 6-1 in high-danger chances and 3-1 where it mattered most.

Even though Vegas controlled play in the first and third frames, the Golden Knights were unable to capitalize on their chances. The Predators, however, took full advantage of theirs.

The Golden Knights have lost three games in a row and are 3-8-0 in March and 4-9-0 since the Olympic break.

They remain in third place in the Pacific Division with 76 points, four points behind the first-place Ducks, who have a game in hand. Los Angeles, Seattle and San Jose all have multiple games in hand, and all are in action on Saturday, as are the Oilers, who have a one-point lead over Vegas.

It’s unclear what needs to happen for Vegas to turn things around. Consistency has been an issue all season, and the Golden Knights have benefited with 14 “loser” points from overtime or shootout losses.

Simply put, Vegas has to put the puck in the net.

The margin for error has been narrowing for some time, but it’s now starting to disappear, and Saturday’s loss allows one more team (Nashville) to stay in the playoff picture. The Golden Knights have to put a stop to this slide if they want to hold on to a playoff spot.

They will take on the red-hot Dallas Stars tomorrow afternoon in the second half of this back-to-back road set.

Statistics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.

Photo via @PredsNHL on X