In Newark, the Nashville Predators got another win in the New York metropolitan area 
on Friday night. One game after defeating the New York Islanders in Elmont, the Preds downed the New Jersey Devils, 3-2.
Juuse Saros made 29 saves in his return to the Predators crease after coming off the NHL COVID19 protocol.
Nashville has won four straight.
Eeli Tolvanen and Yakov Trenin hit for Nashville goals.
“I think over the course of the season we’ve had excellent goaltending, and our special teams have done well, and that’s a good recipe to win,” Predators head coach John Hynes said. “But I think, first and foremost, is the competitive nature and the toughness of the group that has been a determining factor during the win streak.”
The Predators improved to 16-10-1.
“[Tolvanen’s] got so much substance to his game,” Hynes said. “Now he’s found a different way to produce offense to where he’s willing to get into the inside of the ice and he gets tipped goals and screen goals. That’s another way for a young player that wants to be, and has the potential to be, a scorer in this league regularly … finding different ways to be able to contribute.
“I love his talent, but I just love the character and the competitiveness of the player.”
New Jersey got goals from Pavel Zacha and Yegor Sharangovich.
“We didn’t make the plays that were there and didn’t shoot enough pucks to the net [on the power play],” Zacha said.
New Jersey dropped to 10-10-5.
“I feel like we were skating well, had a pretty good first period, but we got a little bit loose in certain areas and they scored right away,” New Jersey;s Nico Hischier said. “It’s a tough one but we have to buckle up. Just little mistakes, those details we’re talking about can cost us a game.”
Roman Josi also scored for the Predators.
“He just looks like his old self,” Josi said of Saros. “He’s been unbelievable for us all year. I think we always knew how good he was, and I think now that he’s the starter the whole year, the whole hockey world sees how good he is. He gives us the chance to win every night.”
Sharangovich. scored with 65 seconds left in the game to make the score look better.
“It goes back to the fact [Josi’s] a highly talented player, has great vision, sees plays that others don’t,” Hynes said. “He can execute plays that others can’t, but he’s very consistent in the way that he plays. He’s extremely competitive and he can do it in multiple ways.
Mackenzie Blackwood made 24 saves in the New Jersey loss., who are 1-4-1 in the past six games
You must be logged in to post a comment.