The Nashville Predators scored on their first shot of the game, but Nico Hischier's natural hat trick in the second period lifted the New Jersey Devils to a decisive 5-2 victory Monday at Prudential Center. Juuse Saros made 26 saves on 30 shots through two periods for Nashville before being replaced by Scott Wedgewood in the third. Wedgewood stopped all 15 shots he faced in relief. HOW THE PREDATORS LINED UP VS. NEW JERSEY Forsberg - O'Reilly - Nyquist Pärssinen - Svechkov - Stamkos Jankowski - Novak - Marchessault Smith - Sissons - L'Heureux Lauzon - Josi Skjei - Carrier Del Gaizo - Schenn Saros Wedgewood Extra: Evangelista, McCarron* Forward Michael McCarron missed his second consecutive game and is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. GAME SUMMARY For the second straight game, it was the Predators' top-ranked penalty kill that gave them an early boost. With Alexandre Carrier in the box for hooking less than a minute into the game, Saros and Nashville's penalty killers weathered a six-shot onslaught by the Devils' power play unit to keep New Jersey off the board. The Predators capitalized on the early momentum shift just over five minutes into the game, and Filip Forsberg lasered a shot from the wall that beat 6-foot-6 Jacob Markstrom to give Nashville the early 1-0 lead. The Predators struggled to contain New Jersey's attack through the rest of the period, giving up multiple odd man rushes but only capitalizing on a 3-on-2 that saw former Predators forward Erik Haula tip the puck Saros on a tic-tac-toe play from Dawson Mercer and Jonathan Kovacevic to tie the score at 1-1. Hischier scored his first goal off the rush on a feed from Luke Hughes to give the Devils the 2-1 lead less than four minutes into the second period. At the midway point of the frame, a costly too many men penalty for Nashville put the Devils back on the power play and allowed Hischier to score, unassisted, on a wrist shot from the face-off circle. He completed the hat trick nearly seven minutes later on the breakaway, beating Saros five-hole to extend New Jersey's lead to 4-1 heading into the second intermission. Zachary L'Heureux was able to bring the Predators within two early in the third period, receiving a stretch pass from Roman Josi and going forehand-to-backhand around Markstrom's left skate for his second career NHL goal. The Predators gained an advantage later in the period after Timo Meier cross-checked L'Heureux in the face, earning a major penalty and a game misconduct. But Nashville could not get anything going on the power play, recording just one shot on goal through the five-minute man advantage. Wedgewood was pulled for the extra attacker in the final minute of the man advantage, at which point Justin Dowling scored into the empty net for the 5-2 final. KEY TAKEAWAYS * undefined * undefined * undefined UP NEXT The Predators return home to host the Philadelphia Flyers Wednesday at Bridgestone Arena. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast regionally on FanDuel Sports Network South and on ESPN+ for out-of-market customers in the United States. Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discuss Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz's comments about kicking off a "rebuild plan." Visit The Hockey News Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/] team site to stay updated on the latest news [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news], game day [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/game-day] coverage, player features [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/players], podcasts [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/podcasts] and more. RECENT PREDATORS NEWS 2 Predators Prospects Expected to Represent Canada at World Juniors [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/2-predators-prospects-projected-to-represent-canada-at-world-juniors] Nashville Predators Recall Fedor Svechkov from AHL [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/nashville-predators-recall-fedor-svechkov-from-ahl] Dust-up Ensues at Nashville Predators Practice [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/dust-up-ensues-at-nashville-predators-practice] Predators Waste Stellar Performance from Juuse Saros, Fall 3-0 to Kraken [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/predators-waste-stellar-performance-by-saros-fall-3-0-to-kraken] Podcast: The Nashville Predators Are Exploring the Trade Market ... For a Defenseman? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/podcasts/podcast-nashville-predators-are-exploring-the-trade-market-for-a-defenseman]
