The Golden Knights closed out 2025 with a thud, dropping their third straight game Wednesday night in a 4-2 loss to the Nashville Predators at T-Mobile Arena. The defeat capped a disappointing four-game homestand in which Vegas went 1-3 and surrendered 14 goals.
Now the Knights hit the road for their annual father’s trip, which begins Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Historically, the presence of players’ dads has been a good luck charm: Vegas is 11-0-1 all-time with their fathers in attendance.
“I think we have to just start playing with more confidence,” center Tomas Hertl said. “It’s time for other guys (to pick it up). We dig deep enough to play (through) it, but we have to just play more confident, play more with the puck.”
The Knights jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes, but Nashville defenseman Nick Perbix’s point shot sparked a four-goal run by the Predators. Steven Stamkos added a power-play goal, and the Knights never recovered.
“We kind of have to just stop the bleeding and get back to our game,” left wing Brandon Saad said. “It seems like when we get scored on, we’re getting in those ruts. In the third we got back to our game, but it was too late.”
Injuries continue to plague Vegas. Leading scorer Jack Eichel has missed seven games with a lower-body issue and illness, though he skated the last two days and will travel with the team. Center William Karlsson has been out nearly two months with a lower-body injury, and goaltender Adin Hill is approaching three months sidelined. Defenseman Brayden McNabb, who has the NHL’s 10th-longest active streak of 298 consecutive games, left Wednesday’s game after a collision and did not return.
“Obviously, it’s not easy when you’re missing key players,” Hertl said. “The whole season, it feels like we’re missing some key players. They play a lot of minutes for us.”
Coach Bruce Cassidy acknowledged the responsibility to steady the ship. “That’s my job to get the guys ready,” he said. “I do feel they have to own their performance. … When your game goes in the direction you don’t want it to go, it’s up to the head coach to fix it. So, we’ll keep working on our defensive play.”
Despite allowing only 19 shots against Nashville, the Knights gave up four goals — three in the first period. “It’s not like we’re breaking down all over the ice,” Cassidy said.
Eichel’s potential return Friday could provide a boost, but the Knights have surrendered 27 goals in the seven games without him. They’ll look to snap their skid at noon Friday at Enterprise Center.
