Roman Josi's four point game and young Jusso Parssinen's two goals helped the Predators get an important win over a hot Islanders team.
The Nashville Predators welcomed the New York Islanders to Bridgestone Arena as the Preds hoped to string together their first three wins in a row of the season. The Predators earned two wins against the Rangers and Wild with 2-1 scores in each game.
The Islanders have won 6 other last 8 and arrived in Nashville off of a 4-2 win Monday night in Ottawa. The Isles have been offensively productive, defensively responsible, and have gotten excellent goaltending in their 17 games.
Tonight Juuse Saros started in net for the Predators while Ilya Sorokin got the nod in net for the Islanders.
Game Recap
The Predators struck early as Filip Forsberg punched a rebound in the net past Sorokin at 1:03. The Islanders answered back compliments of a shot by Adam Pelech and a Preds unlucky bounce at 2:43 to quickly tie the game 1-1.
Nashville's power play got its first chance of the game at 5:13 but couldn't capitalize. The Preds' fourth line buzzed around the net and Colton Sissons connected on a shot on net to make it 2-1. The Preds kept the offensive pressure on and less than a minute later Nino Niederreiter tipped another shot past Sorokin to give the Predators a two goal lead.
The pace in the first remained fast, and when the period ended Nashville had 18 shots on goal and a 3-1 lead over the Islanders.
Nashville started the second period with that same speed and intensity, and it paid off again as Juuso Pärssinen buried a rebound at 5:01. The Islanders pushed back and momentum swung in New Yorks' favor. Their offensive pressure paid off as Matt Martin finally scored at 15:41. The Predators were able to hold off the Isles' push and the Preds headed into the second intermission with a 4-2 lead.
The final period saw four on four play early on interference/embellishment offsetting calls. The teams exchanged chances and shots off the posts, but the teams returned to five a side with no goals.
Nashville struggled to get back to their first period form with trouble getting through the neutral zone and turnovers. The Islanders' continued pressure in the third resulted in a goal by Kyle Palmieri at 4:32. John Hynes called a time out to interrupt the momentum and exhorted the Preds to regroup after New York made it a 4-3 game.
Anders Lee was hooked on a breakaway chance giving the Isles a power play at 6:04. New York spent the two minutes in the offensive zone, but the penalty kill and Saros kept the puck out of the net. The Predators caught a break and a chance to interrupt the Islanders momentum with a power play chance at 9:52. Immediately, Juuso Pärssinen tipped the puck past Sorokin to give the Preds a two goal lead once again.
Nino Niederreiter headed to the penalty box for a delay of game as he grabbed the puck with his hand at 7:52. The Islanders power play threatened early, but the Predators kill was successful. Nashville gave the Isles another chance as Ekholm headed to the box with less than five minutes remaining for a questionable tripping call. This time New York quickly capitalized on a net front goal by Jean-Gabriel Pageau making it a 5-4 game.
With 2:50 Mathew Barzal was called for a high stick giving Nashville a chance again on the power play as time wound down. The power play expired and Sorokin exited the net leaving less than a minute in the game. The Predators held off the 6 on 5 attack and extended their win streak to three games with a 5-4 victory at home.
Game Notes
1. Pucks on net paid off for the Predators. At times this season, Nashville wasted time looking for a perfect shot. Tonight was a good reminder that putting pucks on net may not earn style points, but it can definitely result in goals.
2. Momentum can be a blessing and a curse for Nashville. The first period was all the Preds, but once they took their foot off the gas just a little, it oopedn the door in the second and third for the Islanders to pounce. Managing momentum shifts have been a challenge for Nashville to manage this season.
3. Jusso Pärssinen had a two goal game. It wasn't a perfect night for Pärssinen who had two giveaways, but he showed that he has not only the talent to be an NHL threat but also the mental toughness to put those mistakes behind him quickly and get back to his game.