Manhattan, NY – The Nashville Predators began a four game road trip with a big win over the New York Rangers tonight at Madison Square Garden, 5-2. The Predators were outshot by the relentless Rangers, 41-24, but were able to make their chances count in the victory.
Juuse Saros started in goal for the Predators tonight and blocked 39 shots. Nashville needs to refresh their browser on this season if they expect to make the playoffs, coming off of a embarrassing loss to the Dallas Stars on Saturday night.
Rocco Grimaldi kicked things off for Nashville at 10:36 of the first period, firing a wrist shot on goal that beat Ranger netminder, Alexandar Georgiev for the 1-0 lead.
Chris Kreider brought the Rangers even at 11:10, taking a pass from Mika Zibanejad and the slap shot evened the scored, 1-1.
Into the second period, Predators captain Roman Josi gave Nashville the lead once again at 10:16, taking a Ranger turnover and firing a wrist shot for the score and the 2-1 lead.
Mattias Ekholm, who had been in the penalty box for cross checking, bolted out of the box and took a Nick Bonino pass for the breakaway and scored for the 3-1 Nashville lead.
The Rangers put incredible pressure on the Predators all night, but Saros stood tall in goal and the Nashville defense stepped up to support him.
In the third period, Artemi Panarin scored from the slot at 17:18 and suddenly New York was within a goal, 3-2.
The Rangers pulled their goalie at just under two minutes remaining in the game, when Roman Josi fired a shot from behind the Nashville net for the empty netter and the Predators had their two goal lead once again, 4-2.
Then Ryan Ellis scored an empty netter at 19:55 for the final score, 5-2. The win was a satisfying effort for the Predators who have been slumping of late, and needed this momentum moving forward.
Nashville will play game two of this “back-to-back series tomorrow night against the New York Islanders, and former head coach, Barry Trotz.
Puck drops at 6:00pm.
