The Nashville Predators rallied for two goals in the middle frame to tie the game but fell short as the New Jersey Devils scored two in the third, losing 4-2 Thursday, March 26 at Bridgestone Arena.
Nashville [34-29-9] lost both games against New Jersey [37-32-2] in its season series. The Predators remain one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.
Reid Schaefer and Steven Stamkos scored for Nashville and Justus Annunen stopped 26 of 29 in the loss.
"We didn't get the start of the first half of the game we wanted. We climb our way back, fight like we've been doing all year," Stamkos said. "A penalty with seven minutes left in the game is tough. It's a tight game, but it is what it is. "Nashville Predators YT
The Predators took two minor penalties in the final half of the third period and Devils center Nico Hischier scored the game-winning goal on the second power play. It was the only penalty kill Nashville's special teams surrendered a goal in the game.
"[The referees] call what they see and we deal with it. Unfortunately, it probably affected the outcome of the game," Preds Head Coach Andrew Brunette said. "I think we left it up to chance and you leave it up to chance. There's going to be nights like this happens. It was the same mentality."Nashville Predators YT
Stamkos felt strongly on the game's final penalty calls against Preds forwards Fedor Svechkov and Matthew Wood. His frustration handed him a 10-minute misconduct penalty following New Jersey's fourth goal of the night on the empty net.
"It's frustrating the way that the game ended on that power play goal," Stamkos said. "It's tough. The refs call what they see. No matter how much we yell and scream, they're not changing the call once it's made."Nashville Predators YT
Devils forward Jesper Bratt scored the game's first goal off a tip-in shot. Hischier added onto the lead with his first of the night in the second period.
The Preds got on the board after Schafer caught himself on the breakaway and finishing the play with his sixth of the season. Stamkos tallied another with seven minutes left in the second.
It remained tied till Hischier broke the tie, and Timo Meier ended it with an empty netter with 33 seconds left in the game.
"We're not going to surprise anybody anymore," Preds defenseman Nicolas Hague said. "We've been playing well and you get to this time of year, and intensity certainly ramps up. These are playoff-style games and we're fighting for our lives, for that ticket. It's only going to get tougher."Nashville Predators YT
The Predators have 10 games left to prove this season with their being against the Montreal Canadiens to wrap up the homestand. They'll have to face the youngest team in the league. A mixture of young and veteran presence will be key to gaining an edge over Montreal.
"I'm always a believer in you learn what you can, take a look at stuff that needs to be looked at. Then you got to cut it loose and show up to the rank," Hague said. "Saturday, another huge game that means a lot to us. That's the mindset that we got to take day by day and keep working on our game."Nashville Predators YT