Two Western Conference squads hit the ice when the fifth-place Vegas Golden Knights (17-9-11) host the 11th-place Nashville Predators (17-17-4) at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET. Nashville won on the road in its most recent game on Dec. 29, 4-3 over the Utah Mammoth.

Vegas is missing a pair of stars in Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore due to injury. Not to mention a very good middle-six forward in William Karlsson and a starting goaltender in Adin Hill. The Oilers should have an easier time tilting the ice and getting on the attack, which will lead to more offensive zone touches for Bouchard.

Brayden McNabb and Mark Stone scored for the Golden Knights (17-9-11), who have lost five of their past six games (1-3-2). Carter Hart allowed five goals on 12 shots before being replaced in the second period by Akira Schmid, who stopped all 15 shots he faced.

The NHL is officially back from the holiday break with a full 11-game slate on the docket on Monday night. The Florida Panthers host the Washington Capitals in

Eichel (lower body) will join the Golden Knights on their three-game road trip, which begins Friday in St. Louis, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports.

Three Golden Knights join coach Bruce Cassidy to represent the 2026 Canada Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.

Golden Knights center Jack Eichel did not take part in pregame warmups and will miss his seventh straight game on Wednesday against the Nashville Predators.