Nashville @ Vegas preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 16, 2019 ) Nashville 1, Vegas 5

Scoring goals has not been an issue for the revamped Nashville Predators, but an inability to slow the opposition has offset the offensive eruption. After allowing a season-worst goal total in a 7-4 loss at the Los Angeles Kings, the Predators look to get back on track when they resume their three-game road trip at the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night.

Two nights after erupting for four third-period goals in a 6-5 victory over Washington, Nashville started its trek by erasing a three-goal deficit in the third before surrendering three late tallies to the Kings. "It's a good wakeup call for us this early in the season," said marquee offseason acquisition Matt Duchene, who called it the Predators' "worst game of the year." Vegas is coming off an impressive offensive showing in a back-to-back against Calgary and at Los Angeles, scoring 11 times to complete the sweep of the Pacific Division rivals. “The parity is so good around the league,” goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury said. “If you’re on top of your division, you’ll be in good shape to make the playoffs. That’s why those games mean so much more.”

TV: 10 p.m. ET, ESPN Plus, FS Tennessee (Nashville), AT&T Sportsnet-Rocky Mountain (Las Vegas)

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (3-2-0): Nashville has scored an NHL-leading 15 of its 23 goals in the third period, including the three Sunday that led Duchene to note "it's impressive what we’re capable of doing ... when we need to" while lamenting not playing 60 minutes. The second unit of Duchene, Filip Forsberg and Mikael Granlund has amassed 20 points, but top-line center Ryan Johansen is off to a fast start with a pair of goals and five assists during a five-game point streak. Johansen, though, has only one goal in five games versus Vegas.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (4-2-0): Gallant reunited the No. 2 line of Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty and Paul Stastny over the weekend and the trio combined for five points against Calgary before erupting for four goals and four assists versus the Kings. The unit also ignited the power play, converting on all three chances against Los Angeles. "We want to be capitalizing on the power play, or at least getting some sustained pressure," said Pacioretty, who has collected eight points in six games. "That's what you want from your power play."

OVERTIME

1. Stone has nine points on the season, including two in four of the six games.

2. Forsberg has only one assist in four meetings against the Golden Knights.

3. Fleury has permitted three goals in three starts versus Nashville since joining Vegas.

PREDICTION: Golden Knights 4, Predators 3