Evgenii Dadonov scores in ‘return’ as Golden Knights rout Predators

Evgenii Dadonov had a objective and two assists, and the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Nashville Predators 6-1 on Thursday night time in a recreation that included a daunting damage.

Golden Knights ahead Brett Howden was wheeled off the ice on a stretcher after going headfirst into the boards close to the Vegas bench. He was taken to a hospital and was in steady situation, the crew mentioned.

Shaking off a wierd week that noticed him traded to Anaheim on the deadline, solely to have the NHL negate the transaction a bit greater than 48 hours later as a result of a no-trade clause, Dadonov scored his sixth objective in eight video games and has 32 factors this season.

“I felt that help from the stands,” mentioned Dadonov, who was within the beginning lineup and acquired a raucous ovation from the group of 18,021. “In all probability pumped me up much more. I at all times liked taking part in right here, even once I was coming (from) Florida (to) right here. Nice expertise taking part in right here in entrance of this crowd. Nonetheless assume it’s the very best followers within the league.”

Mattias Janmark, Nic Roy, Jack Eichel, Chandler Stephenson and Alex Pietrangelo additionally scored for the Golden Knights. Logan Thompson, making his fifth straight begin, stopped 35 pictures.

Stephenson added two assists and Jonathan Marchessault had three.

Filip Forsberg scored for Nashville, and Juuse Saros made 44 saves.

Although the Golden Knights had been in a position to have fun a win that saved them inside three factors of third-place Edmonton within the Pacific Division, their victory was marred by a scary second with 3:31 left within the first interval when Howden was stretchered off after taking place close to the Vegas bench. The 23-year-old ahead was battling for the puck with Forsberg earlier than shedding his steadiness and getting what seemed to be inadvertently shoved into the boards headfirst.

“I believed liberty was taken. He was in a susceptible place and I believed he bought pushed into the boards from behind in a harmful spot,” Vegas coach Peter DeBoer mentioned. “My preliminary concern was clearly about our participant. It was a very harmful hit, and anytime you see somebody get stretchered off your concern is there.”

Medical personnel introduced a stretcher onto the ice and tended to Howden, who appeared responsive and raised certainly one of his arms as he was taken off the taking part in floor after a nine-minute delay. The Golden Knights introduced in the course of the recreation that Howden was in steady situation at a Las Vegas hospital.

After the sport, DeBoer mentioned Howden has full motion and he’ll know extra Friday.

Nashville coach John Hynes and captain Roman Josi opened their postgame information convention commenting on the state of affairs.

“On behalf of us Predators gamers and everybody else, we simply wish to want Brett all the very best,” Josi mentioned. “Scary incident there and everybody was a bit shocked, however we’ve heard he’s in steady situation and hopefully his restoration goes nicely. Simply wish to want you all the very best.”

Added Hynes: “I’d identical to to echo Roman’s statements relating to Brett Howden. On behalf of the Nashville Predators, it’s good to listen to he’s in steady situation and doing nicely. We help him and want him all the very best.”

Janmark put Vegas on the board 1:31 into the sport with a redirect from the excessive slot off Pietrangelo’s shot from the blue line.

Roy elevated the lead later within the interval when he gathered a unfastened puck within the middle of the appropriate circle, turned and fired it previous Saros in a single swift movement.

On an influence play within the second interval, Dadonov despatched the appreciative crowd that welcomed him again with the roar throughout pregame introductions into one other frenzy when he buried a unfastened puck in entrance with a backhand.

Forsberg ruined Thompson’s bid for a shutout when he tapped dwelling Josi’s move throughout the slot for a power-play objective. With the help, Josi tied his profession excessive with some extent in his twelfth straight recreation.

Eichel pushed the lead again to a few when he squeezed by means of two defenders and located area contained in the close to put up for the Golden Knights’ second power-play objective of the interval.

Stephenson and Pietrangeo put an exclamation level on the win with objectives late within the third.

NOTES: DeBoer coached in his 1,000th profession recreation. … The Golden Knights additionally misplaced middle Nolan Patrick early within the recreation after he performed simply 1:37 over three shifts. … The Predators misplaced for the fourth time in 11 video games and stay in a third-place tie with Minnesota within the Central Division, one level again of St. Louis. … Forsberg’s thirty sixth objective of the season moved him right into a sixth-place tie within the NHL with Boston’s David Pastrnak, who had a hat trick earlier within the night time.

UP NEXT

Nashville: Hosts the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.

Vegas: Hosts the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.