The Nashville Predators came away with a 4-1 win over the league-leading Winnipeg Jets on Saturday evening. It’s the fifth straight game the Predators have scored at least three goals against the Jets.
It was also the first game this season where free agent acquisitions Jonathan Marchessault & Steven Stamkos both scored in the same game.
“We’ve had games this year where we really found our game, where we lost some momentum or a disallowed goal would throw us into a tailspin. I thought the group grabbed it & we learned from past experiences & we got to our game,” head coach Andrew Brunette said.
One of Nashville’s top prospects Fedor Svechkov made his NHL debut for the Predators after spending the better part of the last two seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL. He ended the night with 7:34 of ice time & went 1-for-3 in the faceoff circle.
After former general manager David Poile & defenseman Shea Weber were honored with a ceremonial puck drop the Predators & Jets got off to a spirited start. There were 17 hits in the opening frame as the two Central Divisional foes faced off for the first time this season.
In a fitting fashion with Weber in attendance, captain Roman Josi fired a howitzer past Jets goalie Eric Comrie to make it 1-0 9:55 into the contest.
Marchessault picked up his first five-on-five point of the season on the play 21 games into his tenure with the Predators. He dished a pass from along the wall & Josi blasted a slap shot while forward Tommy Novak was in front for traffic.
“Within the basis of how we play there’s a few things either we could explain better or tweak, I don’t think they’re drastic tweaks but I think it helps some of the new guys & simplifies it better,” Brunette said of his team’s play five-on-five against Winnipeg.
Nashville’s bench boss said Saturday was Marchessault’s best game of the season to date taking charge on the ice with his play.
“Give him a lot of credit I thought he’s taken charge of his line & showed great leadership,” Brunette said. “With Novak, I’ve seen him pushing him & talking. He’s engaged, he’s invested, I think it’s hard when you come from a place of success & you won then come in here & it takes some time to adjust.”
Just 16 seconds after Josi’s goal it was defenseman Alexandre Carrier who thought he had a sure goal but the entry was offside as Colton Sissons entered the offensive zone before the puck.
Winnipeg came out of the first break with a lot of speed & began to force a few errors on Nashville.
“That’s the pace we’re trying to find. I think we have to be a pretty desperate group right now to fight our way back into it. That’s what we were tonight & that’s what we’re going to have to be moving forward,” Novak said.
Winnipeg’s pace of play paid off as the third line was able to squeeze the puck past goalie Juuse Saros during a scrum on the blue ice for their lone goal of the evening.
Jets captain Adam Lowry cashed in to tie the game at one apiece as he found the loose puck in front of Saros.
Nashville had an answer for the Jets coming out of the locker room for the third period. The Predators drew a hooking penalty on defenseman Josh Morrissey for their third powerplay look of the night.
The top powerplay unit was wheeling & dealing passes in hopes of a lane opening up. One did for Stamkos after defenseman Hadyn Fleury blocked Filip Forsberg’s shot.
A ricocheted puck slid over to Stamkos & the veteran slammed a slapshot past Comrie to take a 2-1 lead.
Two minutes later it was Marchessault who caught up on the rush after Mark Jankowski fired a shot on Comrie. The puck bounced back out & Marchessault grabbed his fourth goal of the year to claim a 3-1 lead.
Josi picked up the empty net goal, his 21st career multi-goal performance, to make it 4-1 over the Jets.
“We have to remember how we played & stay with the same intensity & battle,” Novak said. “I think it’s just keeping our foot on the gas & don’t get too happy we won one, focus working on every shift & let the chips fall where they may when we’re working at our hardest.”
Up Next
The Predators have a quick trip up to New Jersey on Monday to take on the Devils who won or lost against the Washington Capitals tonight.
Puck drop is slated for 6 p.m. with pregame at 5 p.m. over right here on 102.5 The Game. Max Herz & Hal Gill will have the call from the Prudential Center.
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
Photos courtesy of the Nashville Predators
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