Nashville Predators top Los Angeles Kings, take over top wild-card spot in Western Conference

It was winner-take-first-place-in-the-Western-Conference-wild-card-race Thursday night when the Nashville Predators faced the Los Angeles Kings.

The Kings entered the game a point ahead of Nashville in that race despite having just one victory in its previous 10 games, a stretch that included an eight-game losing streak.

The result was a 2-1 victory for the Predators, who moved a point ahead of the Kings.

The teams traded early goals.

His back to the net, forward Ryan O’Reilly redirected a shot with 12:04 left in the second to give the Predators a 1-0 lead.

It was O’Reilly’s 17th goal overall and his 11th power-play goal of the season.

Drew Doughty’s power-play goal 56 seconds later tied the score 1-1 with 11:08 left in the second.

Gustav Nyquist’s goal with 6:20 remaining in the second period put the Predators back ahead 2-1. It was his 12th goal of the season. He had 11 last year.

Juuse Saros made 33 saves for Nashville. Former Predators goalie David Rittich stopped 31 shots for the Kings.

The Predators (25-19-1) began their three-game trip with a frustrating 4-1 loss to Vegas on Monday.

Nashville Predators live score updates, highlights at Los Angeles Kings

Final: Predators 2, Kings 1

Second period

Gustav Nyquist gives Predators lead

After 2: Predators 2, Kings 1

Gustav Nyquist’s goal with 6:20 remaining in the second period put the Predators back ahead 2-1.

It was his 12th goal of the season. He scored 11 last season.

Ryan O’Reilly and Luke Schenn earned assists.

Drew Doughty ties score for Kings

Predators 1, Kings 1

Drew Doughty’s power-play goal 56 seconds after Ryan O’Reilly’s tied the score 1-1 with 11:08 left in the second.

Ryan O’Reilly’s power-play goal gives Predators 1-0 lead

Predators 1, Kings 0

His back to the net, Predators forward Ryan O’Reilly redirected Roman Josi's shot into the net with 12:04 left in the second to give the Predators a 1-0 lead.

It was O’Reilly’s 17th goal of the season, and his 11th power-play goal of the season.

Josi and Colton Sissons picked up assists on the play.

First period

Predators, Kings tied after scoreless first period

End first: Predators 0, Kings 0

The Predators managed 12 shots on goal against former Nashville goalie David Rittich to the Kings' eight.

Juuse Saros is in net for the Predators. Cody Glass also returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the last three games.

Nashville Predators lineup vs. Los Angeles Kings

What channel is Predators vs. Kings today?

• TV channel: ESPN+

• Stream: ESPN+ and Hulu (national broadcast)

Viewers can also stream the game exclusively on ESPN+, ESPN's subscription streaming service which features more than 1,000 out-of-market games via NHL Power Play as well as exclusively-streamed games throughout the season, or on Hulu.

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Predators vs. Kings start time

• Date: Thursday, Jan. 18

• Time: 9 p.m. CT

The Predators face the Los Angeles Kings, with puck drop scheduled for 9 p.m. CT Thursday at Crypto.com Arena.

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Predators vs. Kings betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Jan. 18

• Puck line: Predators +1.5 at -185, Kings -1.5 at +150

• Over/under: 6 goals

• Money line: Predators +125, Kings -155

Nashville Predators 2023-24 schedule

All games on Bally Sports South unless listed; All times Central

October

10: at Tampa Bay, 4:30 p.m., ESPN and ESPN+ — L, 5-3

12: vs. Seattle, 7 p.m. — W, 3-0

14: at Boston, 6 p.m. — L, 3-2

17: vs. Edmonton, 7 p.m. — L, 6-1

19: at N.Y. Rangers, 6 p.m. — W, 4-1

21: vs. San Jose, 7 p.m. — W 5-1

24: vs. Vancouver, 8:15 p.m. — L 3-2

28: vs. Toronto, 6 p.m., Bally Sports South and NHL Network (nationally) — W 3-2 (OT)

31: at Vancouver, 9 p.m. — L 5-2

November

2: at Seattle, 9 p.m. — L 4-2

4: at Edmonton, 2 p.m., Bally Sports South and NHL Network (nationally) — W 5-2

7: at Calgary, 8 p.m. — L 4-2

9: at Winnipeg, 7 p.m. — L 6-3

11: vs. Arizona, 7 p.m. — L 7-5

14: vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m., ESPN+ and Hulu — L 3-2

18: vs. Chicago, 1 p.m. — W 4-2

20: vs. Colorado, 7 p.m.— W 4-3

22: vs. Calgary, 8 p.m. — W 4-2

24: at St. Louis 2 p.m.— W 8-3

26: vs. Winnipeg, 7 p.m.— W 3-2

28: vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.— W 3-2 (OT)

30: vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.— L 6-1

December

2: vs. N.Y. Rangers, 3:30 p.m.— L 4-3

3: at Buffalo, 6 p.m.— W 2-1

5: at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.— W 4-3 (SO)

7: vs. Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. — W 5-1

9: at Toronto, 6 p.m. — L 4-0

10: at Montreal, 6 p.m. — W 2-1

12: vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m. — W 3-2 OT

15: at Carolina, 6 p.m., ESPN+ and Hulu — W 6-5 OT

16: vs. Washington, 7 p.m. — W 3-1

19: vs. Vancouver, 7 p.m. — L 5-2

21: at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.— W 4-2

23: vs. Dallas, 2 p.m. — L 3-2

27: vs. Carolina, 7 p.m. — L 5-2

29: at Detroit, 6 p.m. — L 5-4 OT

30: at Washington, 6 p.m. — W 3-2 SO

January

2: vs. Chicago, 7 p.m. — W 3-0

4: vs. Calgary, 7 p.m. — L 6-3

6: at Dallas, 7 p.m. — W 4-3

9: vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m. — L 5-3

12: at Dallas, 7 p.m. — W 6-3

13: vs. N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m. — W 3-1

15: at Vegas, 9 p.m. — W 4-1 (24-19-1)

18: at Los Angeles, 9 p.m., ESPN+ and Hulu

20: at Arizona, 2 p.m.

22: vs. Florida, 7 p.m.

25: at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

27: at Edmonton, 3 p.m.

29: at Ottawa, 6 p.m.

31: vs. Los Angeles, 6:30 p.m., TNT

February

10: vs. Arizona, 7 p.m.

13: vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.

15: vs. Dallas, 7 p.m., ESPN+ and Hulu

17: at St. Louis, 4 p.m.

20: at Vegas, 9 p.m.

22: at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m., ESPN+ and Hulu

24: at San Jose, 9 p.m.

25: at Anaheim, 7 p.m.

27: vs. Ottawa, 7 p.m.

29: vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.

March

2: vs. Colorado, 5 p.m.

5: vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.

7: vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m.

9: at Columbus, 11:30 a.m.

10: at Minnesota, 2:30 p.m., TNT

13: at Winnipeg, 6:30 p.m.

16: at Seattle, 9 p.m.

19: vs. San Jose, 7 p.m.

21: at Florida, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+ and Hulu

23: vs. Detroit, 4 p.m.

26: vs. Vegas, 7 p.m.

28: at Arizona, 9 p.m.

30: at Colorado, 5 p.m.

April

2: vs. Boston, 7 p,m,

4: vs. St. Louis, 7 p.m., ESPN+ and Hulu

6: at N.Y Islanders, 6:30 p.m.

7: at New Jersey, 6 p.m.

9: vs. Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

12: at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

13: vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.

15: at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators top Kings, take over top wild-card spot in Western Conference