Pacioretty, Golden Knights hold off Forsberg, Predators

NASHVILLE -- Max Pacioretty had an assist in his return for the Vegas Golden Knights in a 5-2 win against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday.

Pacioretty had not played since Oct. 14 because of a lower-body injury for Vegas (12-8-0). Chandler Stephenson and Mark Stone each had a goal and an assist, and Robin Lehner made 26 saves.
"He's a thoroughbred as a player," Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said of Pacioretty. "He had a non-weight bearing injury that he had to basically stay off for five weeks. So he wasn't allowed to do anything. He's had a week of skating and he jumps in, played 17 minutes tonight, looked really good. Not many guys can do that."

Filip Forsberg scored two goals for the Predators (10-8-1) in his return to the lineup. He missed nine games with an upper-body injury. Juuse Saros made 30 saves.
"He worked hard to get back, so it was nice to see him get back and get rewarded for the hard work," Predators coach John Hynes said. "Tough when you're off that long. I'm glad he got a couple on the board. I thought his energy and skating was good. Obviously he was firing the puck tonight and that's a big strength of his."
Stephenson scored at 19:12 of the first period to make it 1-0. Stone forced defenseman Alexandre Carrier into a turnover at the Nashville blue line. Stephenson secured the loose puck and scored from the slot.
Jonas Rondbjerg made it 2-0 at 3:01 of the second period, forcing a Roman Josi turnover at the Nashville blue line before scoring on a wrist shot from the slot over Saros' right shoulder.
Adam Brooks' first goal of the season gave the Golden Knights a 3-0 lead at 11:12 of the second. Mattias Janmark passed the puck across the crease and Keegan Kolesar deflected it to Brooks.
Forsberg scored on a breakaway at 5:20 of the third period, making it 3-1.
The Golden Knights' Alex Pietrangelo scored at 8:04 on a shorthanded rush off to make it 4-1.
Forsberg's power-play goal at 13:51 of the third period made it 4-2. He has six goals in 10 games.
"I got better as the game went on," Forsberg said. "I think in the first period I was definitely shaking off the rust a little bit. You can skate all you want, but playing hockey is a different thing than anything else. So I think I got better … It's definitely something to build on."

Forsberg appeared to have scored his first goal at 16:03 of the second period, when his pass across the crease deflected off defenseman Ben Hutton. But Vegas challenged for goalie interference on Thomas Novak, and the goal was overturned after video review.
Stone scored his first goal of the season into an empty net, at 18:08 of the third period for the 5-2 final. This was his eighth game of the season.
"It's pretty obvious I've been a little frustrated," Stone said. "Taking my anger out a little bit too much in the last few games. I kind of had to just relax and play again. I hit the goalie in the chest four times again tonight, on the breakaway [and] chances in the slot.
"But to see that one go in, it will hopefully put my mind at ease a little bit."
NOTES: The Golden Knights killed five Nashville power plays. … Vegas forward William Carrier returned from COVID-19 protocol and played his first game since Nov. 9. He had one shot on goal in 9:44. … Nashville reassigned forward Michael McCarron to Milwaukee of the American Hockey League. Defenseman Ben Harpur was assigned to Milwaukee on a conditioning loan.