The Nashville Predators defeated the New Jersey Devils in overtime 4-3. Through ten games, Nashville is 8-2-0 with 16 points, and have placed themselves at the top of the Central Division and the league.
Nashville Key Stats
Goals
Yannick Weber, Viktor Arvidsson, Filip Forsberg, Kyle Turris
Assists
Kevin Fiala, Calle Jarnkrok, Kyle Turris, Roman Josi, Ryan Johansen, P.K. Subban, Mattias Ekholm
New Jersey Key Stats
Goals
Damon Severson, Nico Hischier (2)
Assists
Taylor Hall (2), Kyle Palmieri (3), Sammy Vatanen
| 1st Period | ||
|---|---|---|
| 02:58 | NJD | Damon Severson (2) Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri |
| 14:40 | NSH | Yannick Weber (1) Kevin Fiala and Calle Jarnkrok |
| 19:01 | NJD | PP — Nico Hischier (2) Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri |
| 2nd Period | ||
| 13:06 | NSH | Viktor Arvidsson (7) Kyle Turris and Roman Josi |
| 13:46 | NJD | Nico Hischier (3) Kyle Palmieri and Sami Vatanen |
| 3rd Period | ||
| 13:40 | NSH | PP — Filip Forsberg (7) Ryan Johansen and P.K. Subban |
| 1st OT Period | ||
| 03:35 | NSH | Kyle Turris (2) Mattias Ekholm |
What Happened
Shot totals were heavy in the first period with both teams. Severson slapped one into traffic that reached the back of the net to start the scoring affairs. Weber later replied with a shot that surprised Keith Kincaid at the top of the circle.
Shot totals waned in the second period, but scoring was ever apparent. Hischier tapped two past Juuse Saros in the second period- once on the power play, once on a breakaway. Arvidsson beat Kincaid with a slapshot of his own prior to Hischier’s second goal.
Forsberg tied the game on the power play. Late in the period, Johansen slid one cross-ice, and Forsberg snapped one through.
Once regulation ended, Turris skated through his defensive zone and center ice, zipped the puck over Kincaid’s shoulder, and gave Nashville their eighth win of the year.
Looking Forward
The first line is carrying the Predators right now, as Arvidsson and Forsberg have scored seven goals each. Not surprisingly, the Swedish forwards lead the team in goals.
Saros turned 33 shots away, and earned his fifth win of the year. He was the reason Nashville won- he squandered a shorthanded breakaway attempt after Subban lost the puck in the neutral zone.
Fiala was demoted to the fourth line for the second time this season. In his place was Rocco Grimaldi- the forward brought up from Milwaukee in place for Dan Hamhuis. Fiala recorded an assist and registered three shots from the fourth line.
Respectively speaking, Nashville could be playing better than the way they have been. Their power play is predictable, their penalty kill is passive, and while the first line is propelling them to prominence, the rest of the team could be producing more.
That being said, the other three lines are putting together some good shifts here and there- once the mistakes are cleaned up, there’s no telling how dominant the Predators will be.
Nashville comes home to Bridgestone Arena to take on the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Saros and the gang have already shut the Oilers out this year.
Also, Austin Watson and Pekka Rinne are practicing with the Predators again. Watson, more affectionately known as “the Toothless Wonder,” has eight games left on his suspension.
Cover Photo Credits: Matt Kincaid
-Jack Woods covers the Nashville Predators and the Central Division for Fullpresscoverage.com. You can follow Jack on Twitter at @jack_woods15, and Full Press Coverage Predators at @FPC_Predators
