What a game from the mustard yellow!
The Nashville Predators toppled the Seattle Kraken in a rematch duel Thursday March 19 at home in a 3-1 final. A couple of Preds finished with career milestones while others just continued dominating the scoresheet.
Filip Forsberg rallied with three points, Zachary L'Heureux had four hits, and Justus Annunen stopped 25 of 26 shots faced. It's the first back-to-back win for the Preds since a split in late February and early March.
"I think we're still building," Preds Head Coach Andrew Brunette said. "We went through some changes at the deadline. We're trying to slot guys in roles, and everybody's got to contribute. With this group it's always consistency, but it was a real big win coming off a road trip. These are trap games and we're able to handle it."Nashville Predators YT
Predators' defenseman Brady Skjei tallied his 300th-career point with a primary assist on linemate Ryan Ufko's goal 6:14 into the opening frame. Ufko has played well since his call-up earlier this month with two goals and five points in seven games. He's brought promise and skill to a youth-lacking right side of Nashville's defense.
"I saw a lane and Josty had a really good screen," Ufko said. "I kind of saw the far side of the net and took the one-timer and it went in."Nashville Predators YT
Frederick Gaudreau tied it up with 2:20 left in the period off a redirection pass. It would be Seattle's only goal of the night, despite putting up 13 shots in the first and 26 total.
It was a storybook performance for Annunen as for most of the game he was the only dressed goalie in the lineup for the Preds. Juuse Saros was listed as day-to-day with an injury resulting from practice. Matt Murray was called up but didn't make it to the bench till later in the game. Despite this, Annunen brushed it off and played his very best.
"I could see [Murray] wasn't next to me, but my job doesn't change," Annunen said. "Of course, it's kind of a weird feeling knowing there's no other guy, but at the same time, it's just go out and play like it doesn't really change the game."Nashville Predators YT
In the second period, Nashville would find themselves on the power play and they would capitalize 14 seconds into it thanks to Ryan O'Reilly. It's his 100th-career power play snipe and his 27th with the team.
Forsberg finished it off with an empty netter with less than two minutes in the game to hand Nashville another win. He contributed to every single scoring play in the game, racking a goal and two helpers. It's his second straight multi-point performance and his sixth 30-goal campaign which is second best among Swedish players (seven behind Matt Sundin) per NHL PR.
"Last couple games we've started better," O'Reilly said. "Usually takes us a little longer to kind of emotionally get into the game and start making plays. I think everyone individually [approaches] it a different way and having that poise right away, it's letting us get into the game and not be down a few goals. It's something we continue to do and definitely was an important part of the win tonight."Nashville Predators YT
The Predators continue to go all in for some postseason action as the season nears an end. Only 14 games are left to be played for Nashville and they'll be some big ones. They host Vegas Saturday before flying out to play Chicago Sunday. They'll then follow that up with a crucial home matchup against San Jose, who is also striving for a wild card spot in the West.
If the Predators can come away with two of three games, then it'll put them in a comfortable position heading into April.
Game Notes
Saros is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury after Thursday's practice. He skated in Friday's practice but did not for its entirety, per Brooks Bratten.
L'Heureux laid the boom four times following his two-year, $1.75 million contract extension with the Predators following a 4-3 shootout win against the Winnipeg Jets.
The Predators won the season series 2-1 against Seattle with last night's win. Nashville is 4-3 at home against the Kraken and 7-8 all-time.