NHL Makes Scoring Change After Canucks-Predators Game

That goal secured the Predators’ first victory in five games, ending a 0–3–1 skid that had left the team searching for offensive consistency. Smith said afterward he barely hit the puck but was relieved to see it cross the line after being tied up in front of the net.

“I had a swipe at it and got kind of mauled there and missed it,” Smith said. “If that wouldn’t have crossed the line, I would have been seeing that one all night. But thankfully it did.”

Ryan O’Reilly opened the scoring midway through the second period with a shorthanded wrist shot on a two-on-one rush, giving Nashville a 1–0 lead.

Max Sasson tied the game minutes later for Vancouver with a breakaway finish, his third goal in five games since being recalled from the AHL.

Goaltender Juuse Saros made 21 saves to preserve the Predators' win, while Demko stopped 33 shots in defeat.

Predators coach Andrew Brunette credited his group’s effort, saying the “greasy goals” were starting to come after weeks of close losses.

“They’re not going in easy right now,” Brunette said. “I think we’re sticking with it. I think there’s some things that we can do a little bit better offensively. I think we pass up a lot of shots in good areas. We’re a little slow to pull the trigger. I think we get ourselves in the slot and we don’t shoot, or it gets blocked just because we’re a little slow.

“But I think the greasy goals, that’s part of what a lot of our guys can bring.”

The victory improved Nashville’s record to 3–3–2, while Vancouver fell to 4–4–0 to close its five-game road trip. The Predators will host the Chicago Blackhawks next, and the Canucks return home to face the Montreal Canadiens.