Six different goal scorers helped the Nashville Predators defeat Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild at Bridgestone Arena Thursday night. Roman Josi had a goal and two assists while Colton Sissons and Gustav Nyquist each recorded two assists. Filip Forberg scored a power play goal, Juuse Saros saved 33/34 shots, and depth players Cole Smith and Yakov Trenin added goals to give the Predators a decisive victory.
Andrew Brunette continued to start the lineup that has brought the team success in their last six games.
The Minnesota Wild got on the board first as Connor Dewar cleaned up a rebound in the slot at 9:51. Nashville answered back less than a minute later. Roman Josi spun around in the circle and put the puck in front of Flip Gustavsson where Yakov Trenin tapped it into the net.
Nashville won the ensuing face off and Cole Smith battled through two defenders to skate the puck to the net and score just eight seconds after Trenin to give the Predators a quick 2-1 lead. The teams exchanged chances through the second half of the opening period, but Nashville took a one goal lead into the first intermission.
Tempers flared in the second period resulting in several scrums and a handful of penalties. Ryan O'Reilly and Zach Bogosian both served roughing penalties at 5:42. Nashville had a power play as Marcus Johansson was called for hooking a minute later, but the Predators couldn't convert on the man advantage. Alexandre Carrier sat for a hold midway through the period, but the Wild didn't score on their chance.
At 12:49 Michael McCarron and Mats Zuccarello served unsportsmanlike penalties after another group ruckus resulted in hands flying. Two minutes later, Jeremy Lauzon and Jake Middleton dropped the gloves and were given five minutes each for fighting.
The Predators had to kill off another penalty late in the second but earned a power play with less than three minutes to go as Jacob Lucchini was called for interference. Filip Forsberg scored a power play goal from the top of the circle to give the Predators a 3-1 lead heading into the second intermission.
Roman Josi gave the Predators their fourth goal just 1:32 into the third period banking the puck off Filip Gustafsson's back. Nashville had to kill off another penalty but handled the Wild power play with ease.
A quick pass back from Gus Nyquist to Ryan O'Reilly in the slot gave the Predators a 5-1 lead at 8:03. Ryan McDonagh added a goal at 13:57 off of a pass from Luke Evangelista to give the Predators a 6-1 lead. Juuse Saros shut down all 17 shots he faced in the final period, and the Predators extend their win streak to seven games.
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