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)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has abruptly fired the director of the National Security Agency, according to U.S. officials and members of Congress, but the White House and the Pentagon have provided no reasons for the move.

Senior military leaders were informed Thursday of the firing of Air Force Gen. Tim Haugh, who also oversaw the Pentagon’s Cyber Command, the officials said. They received no advance notice about the decision to remove a four-star general with a 33-year career in intelligence and cyber operations, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel decisions.

The move has triggered sharp criticism from members of Congress. And it marks the latest dismissal of national security officials by Trump at a time when his Republican administration faces criticism over his failure to take any action against other key leaders' use of the Signal messaging app to discuss plans for a military strike. It's unclear who now is in charge of the NSA and the Cyber Command.

Also fired was Haugh's civilian deputy at the NSA, Wendy Noble.

The NSA notified congressional leadership and top lawmakers of the national security committees of the firing late Wednesday but did not give reasons, according to a person familiar with the situation who insisted on anonymity to discuss the matter.

The White House did not respond to messages seeking comment. The NSA referred questions about Haugh to the Defense Department, which had no comment Friday.

Far-right activist and commentator Laura Loomer appeared to take credit Friday in a post on X, saying she raised concerns to Trump about Haugh’s ties to Gen. Mark Milley and the Biden administration and questioned the NSA chief's loyalty to the president. Milley served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during Trump’s first term but has since become an outspoken critic.

“Given the fact that the NSA is arguably the most powerful intel agency in the world, we cannot allow for a Biden nominee to hold that position,” Loomer wrote. “Thank you President Trump for being receptive to the vetting materials provided to you and thank you for firing these Biden holdovers.”

Loomer, who has claimed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks were an “inside job,” had discussed staff loyalty with Trump in an Oval Office meeting Wednesday, according to several people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive personnel manner. A day later, Trump said he fired “some” White House National Security Council officials.

Sen. Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island, said Friday that he has “long warned about the dangers of firing military officers as a political loyalty test.”

"In addition to the other military leaders and national security officials Trump has fired, he is sending a chilling message throughout the ranks: don’t give your best military advice, or you may face consequences,” Reed said in a statement.

He added that Trump “has given a priceless gift to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea by purging competence from our national security leadership.”

Another Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the U.S. was “facing unprecedented cyber threats” and asked how firing Haugh, who has served in the military for 30 years, makes American safer.

Trump hasn't commented on Haugh or Noble, but on Thursday he dismissed the National Security Council firings as normal.

“Always we’re letting go of people,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he made his way to Miami on Thursday afternoon. “People that we don’t like or people that we don’t think can do the job or people that may have loyalties to somebody else.”

The firings come as Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz, fights calls for his ouster after using the publicly available encrypted Signal app to discuss planning for a sensitive March 15 military operation targeting Houthi militants in Yemen.

Warner called it “astonishing” that Trump "would fire the nonpartisan, experienced leader of the National Security Agency while still failing to hold any member of his team accountable for leaking classified information on a commercial messaging app — even as he apparently takes staffing direction on national security from a discredited conspiracy theorist in the Oval Office.”

Haugh met last month with Elon Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency has roiled the federal government by slashing personnel and budgets at dozens of agencies. In a statement, the NSA said the meeting was intended to ensure both organizations are “aligned” with the new administration’s priorities.

Haugh had led both the NSA and Cyber Command since 2023. Both departments play leading roles in the nation’s cybersecurity. The NSA also supports the military and other national security agencies by collecting and analyzing a vast amount of data and information globally.

Cyber Command is known as America’s first line of defense in cyberspace and also plans offensive cyberoperations for potential use against adversaries.

Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Zeke Miller, David Klepper and Lou Kesten in Washington contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump, center, arrives on Air Force One at Miami International Airport, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)