Filip Forsberg and Phil Tomasino score, but the Predators give up two valuable points in a close Western Conference wildcard race to the L.A. Kings.
The Nashville Predators played another solid game but came up short Wednesday night as they welcomed the struggling L.A. Kings to Bridgestone Arena. Alex Turcotte scored his first career NHL goal in the second period in his fourteenth career NHL game for the Kings. . Filip Forsberg and Phil Tomasino each scored in the third period to get the Predators within a goal, but an empty net goal made the final score 4-2.
Both teams generated quality chances early in the game. Midway through the period Carl Grundstrom won a puck battle in the neutral zone and took it to the net to score at 9:51.
Nashville pressured David Rittich in front of the net but couldn't get the puck past him as the period wound down. With just over a minute remaining, Matt Roy was called for a slash, and the Predators earned the first power play of the game. The period ended with :59 seconds left on the man advantage for Nashville.
The Kings' penalty kill kept the Predators from capitalizing on the remainder of the power play, and the teams returned to five a side a minute into the second period. A hold by Dante Fabbro at 16:35 gave the Kings a chance on the power play. The best chances came shorthanded from Colton Sissons, but David Rittich made the saves on the initial shot and rebound. The penalty expired, but just a minute later Alex Turcotte scored blocker side high on Saros for his first NHL goal to make it a 2-0 game.
It appeared Tyson Barrie answered back quickly cleaning up a blocked shot and scoring on Rittich, but Todd McLellan challenged for goaltender interference. Cody Glass made "incidental contact" with Rittich, and the goal was called off. The second period ended with the Predators leading 24-21 in shots on goal but the Kings ahead 2-0.
An early interference penalty by Drew Doughty gave Nashville a power play chance at 2:51 in the third period. The Predators spent plenty of the two minutes in the offensive zone but couldn't get a shot past Rittich before Doughty came out of the box. Nashville kept the puck in the zone, and at 5:15 Filip Forsberg scored to make it a 2-1 game.
Just a minute later Pierre Luc-Dubois headed back to the penalty box for a hook on Ryan McDonagh, and the Predators got their third power play. Just :17 into the power play, Ryan O'Reilly was whistled for a high stick, and the teams played four on four. During four on four play, Kevin Fiala was called for a hold. The Preds played a brief four on three, then four on four, then five on four but couldn't capitalize on any of those combinations.
With 6:39 left to play, Trevor Lewis received a pass from Quinton Byfield behind the net and scored to give the Kings a two goal lead once again. The line of Tomasino, Novak, and Glass came out and created a turnover in the offensive zone, and Roman Josi found Tomasino net front to tap the puck past Rittich at 16:35.
With just under two minutes left, Saros headed to the bench in exchange for the extra attacker. The Predators created chances, but it was Kevin Fiala who scored the empty net goal to make the final score 4-2.