Head coach Andrew Brunette called a third period penalty kill an example of how the Predators pulled out their home opener win over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.
The Nashville Predators got their first win of the 2023-24 season last night at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators defeated the Seattle Kraken by a score of 3-0 earning Juuse Saros the 21st shutout of his career.
The Predators scored a shorthanded goal, Gustav Nyquist scored his first goal as a Nashville Predator, and the team executed well for three periods, but it was a two minute penalty kill that Andrew Brunette believes showed the character and the will of this new Nashville roster. Brunette and defenseman Ryan McDonagh spoke after the game about the importance of killing off this penalty in what was a one goal game at the time.
The Predators were hemmed in the zone by an active Kraken power play. While Juuse Saros managed the shots coming at him, the penalty killers in front of him were unable to clear the puck and make a change. Instead, the Preds players did whatever was necessary to keep Seattle from scoring, including three consecutive shot blocks by Ryan McDonagh.
The Predators hope to build on the home win as they travel to Boston to take on the Bruins tomorrow night.