Event of the Day: Nashville Predators versus Vegas Golden Knights

Our event of the day is the NHL match between the Nashville Predators and the Vegas Golden Knights at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Nashville are third in the Western Conference with 56 points from 42 games, while Vegas occupy the top position with 61 points from the same number of games played, in the first NHL season of the Las Vegas franchise. The Predators played their last match a week ago, last Tuesday, beating the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 at home, their second win in a row. The Golden Knights lost against the same opponent, the Oilers, 3-2 at home on Saturday, after overtime. Vegas won both of their previous matches with Nashville, 4-3 in overtime after a shootout, as visitors in December, and a convincing 3-0 win in Las Vegas at the beginning of January. 
The Predators have the third best power play percentage in the league, on 24.4%. Defenseman Alexei Emelin has a perfect 100% of face-offs won, but left winger Filip Forsberg, scorer of nine power play goals so far, is still out due to an upper-body injury. The Golden Knights score 3.40 goals per game which is the third best efficiency in the league. Centre William Karlsson is fifth in the goals category with 25 scored so far, and is third in the plus/minus stats with 22. His teammate, right winger Reilly Smith, is right behind him with 21. It should be an exciting game at the Bridgestone Arena.
 
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the FA Cup 3rdround replay between West Ham United and Shrewsbury Town at the London Stadium in London. The first match in Shrewsbury on January 7th, ended in a goalless draw. In the Big Bash League, the Melbourne Stars take on the Sydney Sixers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It’s Day 4 of the 2nd Test of the Freedom Trophy between South Africa and India at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. New Zealand and Pakistan play their 4th ODI at the Seddon Park in Hamilton. It’s the second day of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park. In other NHL matches, the Toronto Maple Leafs clash with the St. Louis Blues at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, whilst the New York Rangers come up against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden in New York. In the NBA, the Boston Celtics and the New Orleans Pelicans meet at the TD Garden in Boston. In Ligue 1, Monaco welcome Nice to the Stade Louis II in Monaco. In the Eredivisie, there’s a meeting between Sparta Rotterdam and Vitesse Arnhem at the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel in Rotterdam.
 
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
 
Fixture
 
Photos by NHL
 

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