Eichel has goal and assist to lead Golden Knights over Predators 3-1 for 6th straight win

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jack Eichel had a goal and an assist, and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Nashville Predators 3-1 on Saturday night for their sixth straight win.

Reilly Smith and Brett Howden also scored and Shea Theodore had two assists for Vegas. Adin Hill made 23 saves.

Ryan O’Reilly scored and Justus Annunen stopped 27 shots for Nashville, which has lost three of four.

Tied 1-1 entering the third period, Smith scored the go-ahead goal at 6:25 on a Vegas power play. Howden added an empty-netter in the final minute to give him a goal in three straight games.

O'Reilly gave Nashville a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 5:53 of the second.

Eichel tied it at 8:26, tapping home a rebound after Theodore’s shot hit traffic in front and landed at Eichel’s feet. The goal extended his point-scoring streak to six games.

Golden Knights: Smith’s goal was his first since returning to Vegas following a March 6 trade from the New York Rangers. He previously played six seasons with Vegas before stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Rangers.

Predators: Colton Sissons left the game in the first period after an awkward fall to the ice in the Vegas zone. He was helped off of the ice by teammates and the team announced he was out with a lower-body injury.

O’Reilly appeared to give Nashville a 2-1 lead with 8:26 left in the second, beating Hill with a wrist shot from the low slot through traffic. Vegas challenged the goal alleging goaltender interference and the goal was taken off of the board following a review.

Vegas leads the NHL with 101 goals in the third period, and Nashville is last with 62.

Golden Knights host Edmonton on Tuesday, while Predators visit Philadelphia on Monday.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) celebrates with Nick Blankenburg (37) and Jonathan Marchessault, right, after O'Reilly scored a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nashville Predators left wing Cole Smith (36) moves the puck ahead of Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen (29) and defenseman Nick Blankenburg (37) clear the puck away from the net during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nashville Predators center Colton Sissons (10) is helped off the ice after being injured during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) and Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg (37) watch for the rebound as Predators goaltender Justus Annunen (29) blocks a shot during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) blocks a shot on goal by Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague (14) and Nashville Predators left wing Zachary L'Heureux (68) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) is congratulated after scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

ALEPPO, Syria (AP) — First responders on Sunday entered a contested neighborhood in Syria’ s northern city of Aleppo after days of deadly clashes between government forces and Kurdish-led forces. Syrian state media said the military was deployed in large numbers.

The clashes broke out Tuesday in the predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh and Bani Zaid after the government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, the main Kurdish-led force in the country, failed to make progress on how to merge the SDF into the national army. Security forces captured Achrafieh and Bani Zaid.

The fighting between the two sides was the most intense since the fall of then-President Bashar Assad to insurgents in December 2024. At least 23 people were killed in five days of clashes and more than 140,000 were displaced amid shelling and drone strikes.

The U.S.-backed SDF, which have played a key role in combating the Islamic State group in large swaths of eastern Syria, are the largest force yet to be absorbed into Syria's national army. Some of the factions that make up the army, however, were previously Turkish-backed insurgent groups that have a long history of clashing with Kurdish forces.

The Kurdish fighters have now evacuated from the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood to northeastern Syria, which is under the control of the SDF. However, they said in a statement they will continue to fight now that the wounded and civilians have been evacuated, in what they called a “partial ceasefire.”

The neighborhood appeared calm Sunday. The United Nations said it was trying to dispatch more convoys to the neighborhoods with food, fuel, blankets and other urgent supplies.

Government security forces brought journalists to tour the devastated area, showing them the damaged Khalid al-Fajer Hospital and a military position belonging to the SDF’s security forces that government forces had targeted.

The SDF statement accused the government of targeting the hospital “dozens of times” before patients were evacuated. Damascus accused the Kurdish-led group of using the hospital and other civilian facilities as military positions.

On one street, Syrian Red Crescent first responders spoke to a resident surrounded by charred cars and badly damaged residential buildings.

Some residents told The Associated Press that SDF forces did not allow their cars through checkpoints to leave.

“We lived a night of horror. I still cannot believe that I am right here standing on my own two feet,” said Ahmad Shaikho. “So far the situation has been calm. There hasn’t been any gunfire.”

Syrian Civil Defense first responders have been disarming improvised mines that they say were left by the Kurdish forces as booby traps.

Residents who fled are not being allowed back into the neighborhood until all the mines are cleared. Some were reminded of the displacement during Syria’s long civil war.

“I want to go back to my home, I beg you,” said Hoda Alnasiri.

Associated Press journalist Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.

Sandbag barriers used as fighting positions by Kurdish fighters, left inside a destroyed mosque in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Burned vehicles at one of the Kurdish fighters positions at the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

People flee the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A Syrian military police convoy enters the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Burned vehicles and ammunitions left at one of the Kurdish fighters positions at the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)