Connor Dewar scored a hat trick as the Minnesota Wild and new Wild head coach John Hynes came to Bridgestone Arena and emphatically ended Nashville's six game win streak.
Connor Dewar scored a hat trick as the Minnesota Wild and new Wild head coach John Hynes came to Bridgestone Arena and emphatically ended Nashville's six game win streak.
The Nashville Predators welcomed former head coach John Hynes and his new team the Minnesota Wild to Bridgestone Arena. Both teams were looking for the win for different reasons. Nashville hoped to extend their six game win streak while the Wild looked to make it two in a row after a head coaching change and a tough start to the season.
Ryan Hartman was not in the lineup tonight for the Wild as he served the second of his two game suspension for a trip in Minnesota's game Sunday against the Red Wings. Filip Gustavsson made his fourth consecutive start in net.
Nashville went with eleven forwards and seven defensemen again tonight. Juuse Saros took his place in net for the Predators.
Nashville got an early chance on the power play just 3:58 into the game as Marco Rossi was sent to the box for a hooking infraction. The Predators power play couldn't get set up in the zone on the man advantage, and as the two minute expired the Wild carried the puck down the ice and Connor Dewar cleaned up a loose puck that snuck behind Saros for the first goal of the game.
At 7:30 Kirill Kaprizov headed to the penalty box for a hard hit on Alexandre Carrier. Carrier left the ice and headed down the tunnel and did not return for the remainder of the game. Again Nashville's power play looked disjointed and was unsuccessful at generating chances on the man advantage.
At 14:01 Jake Middleton scored glove side high on Saros. The Predators challenged the goal for offside, but the officials called it a good goal. Just :32 seconds later Kaprizov scored on the delay of game penalty for an unsuccessful challenge and the Wild went up 3-0.
Tempers rose as the opening period continued. Luke Schenn and Marcus Foligno dropped the gloves at 15:44 earning them each five minutes for fighting. At 17:53 Roman Josi sat in the sin bin for a delay of game. Less than a minute later, a scuffle broke out in front of Juuse Saros. When the dust settled, Dante Fabbro and Jeremy Lauzon and Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Body each sat in their respective boxes for roughing. The period ended with the Wild up 3-0.
Minnesota picked up in the second period right where they left off as Pat Maroon tipped a shot past Saros to give the Wild a quick 4-0 lead at 1:43. Kevin Lankinen came in the game for Saros after the fourth goal.
Nashville started to get to their game after the fourth goal picking up speed and spending time in the offensive zone, but a turnover at the blue line by Luke Schenn resulted in Connor Dewar's second goal of the game at 11:12.
A slash was called on Kirill Kaprizov at 16:16, and the Predators power play went to work on their third attempt of the game. While both units were able to set up, neither could capitalize on the man advantage.
With five seconds left in the second, Dante Fabbro headed to the box for a hooking call. The period ended with the Wild up 5-0 and 1:55 remaining on the power play.
The Wild got two shots on goal in their power play time to start the third, but Lankinen handled the shots and the Predators killed off the penalty. At 2:37 Juuso Pärssinen tipped in a shot by Ryan McDonagh to get Nashville on the scoreboard.
The Predators struggled to exit the zone midway through the period and Connor Dewar earned a hat trick with a goal scored off his skate at 9:47. At 10:37 the Predators earned a power play as Jake Middleton sat for a trip on Luke Evangelista. The Predators again couldn't convert on special teams, and the teams returned to five a side.
Minnesota's power play got another chance to score as Phil Tomasino sat for a high stick on Pat Maroon at 15:13. Dewar scored a fourth goal, but the play was deemed offside. Nashville killed off the remainder of the penalty, but couldn't do much more than survive the remainder of the game. The Predators fell to the Wild by a score of 6-1.
Predators Describe First Twenty Games in Three Words: Growth, Resiliency, and Commitment
Cole Smith, Michael McCarron, and Phil Tomasino Bringing Another Dimension to Predators' Game
Team Credits McCarron and Strong Third Period for Win Over Penguins