The Nashville Predators shut out the Utah Hockey Club 4-0 in their first matchup this season. Utah has now been shut out for a league-leading fourth time this season.
It’s a step in the right direction for Nashville as they’ll now embark on a 12-day road trip.
“It’s been tough sledding for us,” head coach Andrew Brunette said. “I think we lost some games we should have won & lost some games we should have lost, that’s always tough. I saw the belief, camaraderie, the pull in the rope & selflessness in different areas. Now, it’s a step, we have a ways to go but it has to start with the first step.”
Nashville went to the powerplay early in the first period as Gustav Nyquist was tripped up by Alex Ferfoot. Defenseman Roman Josi kept the puck in the offensive zone as he was pressured to make a play.
He fed Filip Forsberg a pass as he cycled up toward the blue line, the sharpshooter sniped one past Utah goalie Connor Ingram to take a 1-0 lead 2:37 into the contest.
“I think that’s what I want to do every night, I love to score goals like that every night, but trying to lead with that power & speed to see where things meet,” Forsberg said.
On Forsberg’s goal, Juuso Pärssinen picked up his second assist of the season which was his third point in three games.
“I think we were a little more predictable,” Brunette said of his team’s breakouts. “We haven’t been predictable a whole lot of the year. Some guys are one way, and some guys are going the other way. I thought we kept it direct, we simplified it a little bit & took some of the thinking out of it. Let’s see if we can do that for a while & build off that.”
Utah tried to fire back as they set up in Nashville’s zone & saw Juuso Valimaki with the puck on the blue line who opted for a quick pass to Nick Schmaltz. Saros made a desperation save with his right pad as Schmaltz had him beat going forehand to backhand on his shot.
JUUSE SAROS, TAKE A BOW 🤯 pic.twitter.com/RhNm3nKR4T
— NHL (@NHL) November 10, 2024
With just a minute shy of the halfway point in the opening frame, Utah was assessed two penalties. Logan Cooley for tripping & Olli Maattta for high-sticking Nyquist which was ruled a double-minor after a brief review.
Nashville wasn’t able to muster another goal during the first three minutes of the man-advantage but with 50 seconds remaining on Maatta’s penalty, the Predators took a 2-0 lead.
Jonathan Marchessault was in the middle of the slot between the hash marks when he tipped in a shot made by Josi. The howitzer was too quick as Ingram failed to anticipate the redirection. After the first 20 minutes, the Predators led shots on goal 13-4.
“I think the powerplay you feel good about it when you see it. Didn’t always feel that was the case last year & it’s pretty dangerous right now,” Brunette said.
Utah was all gas & no breaks to start the second frame of action. They posted four shots in the opening 6:18, just as many as they fired on Saros in the first period. Nashville kept the Hockey Club to the outside for their handful of looks on offense.
Nashville spent the first 11:05 of the second period without a shot until Forsberg had an answer. His second goal of the night marked his first multi-goal performance of the season & 44th of his career.
“I think we limited them to a lot of the outside in the corners, a lot of sicks on pucks & I think that starts our game for us, that’s where we’ve been lacking a little bit. Once we do that we can go on the rush & get a little more zone time,” Forsberg said.
Forsberg flew down the ice on the rush with nine minutes to play in the second, as forward Steven Stamkos and defenseman Alex Carrier laid up a pass for him along the left wall. His shot beat Ingram to the top left corner, giving Nashville a 3-0 lead.
The Hockey Club could not find the back of the net on two powerplay attempts in the final frame as Nashville consistently held them to the outside.
Saros came away with this second shutout of the season making 26 saves & now the focus is shifted to the road trip ahead over the next two weeks.
Up Next
Nashville begins a five-game road swing out west. They’ll begin their trip against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday evening with an 8 p.m. start.
Max Herz & Hal Gill will have your call over the 102.5 The Game airwaves while the Predators are out of town for the next 12 days.
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
Photos courtesy of the Nashville Predators
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