NHL: Steven Stamkos scores twice as opportunistic Preds best Golden Knights

Steven Stamkos had two goals and an assist and the host Nashville Predators defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Ryan O'Reilly added a goal and an assist and Tyson Jost also scored for the Predators, who won their third straight. Justus Annunen made 39 saves, 20 in the first period.

Defenseman Shea Theodore got the lone goal for the Golden Knights, who have lost three in a row and have only managed Theodore's goal in those games. Akira Schmid stopped 16 shots.

Nashville (32-28-9, 73 points) has passed Los Angeles and moved into the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Slumping Vegas (31-25-14, 76 points) holds the final spot in the Pacific Division.

Despite being outshot 20-4, the Predators led 1-0 after the first period.

Stamkos scored on Nashville's first shot 40 seconds into the game. It came directly off a face-off win by O'Reilly in the right circle. O'Reilly drew the puck back to Stamkos, who ripped in a one-timer from the high slot.

The Predators second shot did not come until Luke Evangelista's attempt with 7:30 remaining in the opening period. Vegas had 15 to that point.

Stamkos' second goal, on the power play, occurred 83 seconds into the second period and doubled the lead. He put in a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle. It was Stamkos' 238th career power-play goal, which moved him past Brendan Shanahan and into seventh place all-time.

Jost's short-handed marker made it 3-0 with 8:04 left in the middle period. The 10-year veteran completed a 3-on-1 rush with a shot from the inside edge of the right circle for his first career short-handed tally and fourth goal in his last six games.

Theodore put the Golden Knights on the board 1:14 later with a power-play goal. His screened wrist shot from the left point was Vegas' first goal in 180:19, the equivalent of over three games.

O'Reilly got a power-play goal with 5:07 remaining in the second. Stamkos' pass went in off O'Reilly's skate in front of the net.

Nashville's No. 1 goalie Juuse Saros remained out with a lower-body injury and is day-to-day. Matt Murray, who was recalled from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League on Thursday, was Annunen's backup.

-Field Level Media/Reuters