Nashville Predators Beat New York Islanders 2-1

The Nashville Predators are playing better. They came into this game 19-19 after a terrible start. The Islanders were coming off a 9-0 victory against the Devils, and they were hoping to carry that effort forward into their game in Nashville. However, that resounding victory was a unicorn, not to be repeated. This game was much more of a struggle. Nashville was a much tougher opponent for the Islanders, as evidenced by the scoreless first period.

Nashville-Islanders Scoring Summary

Nashville entered this game coming off a 6-2 loss at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers. That amounts to a hockey massacre. Nashville scored both of its goals just 15 seconds apart, and it was dominated by the Oilers for the rest of the game. Interestingly, six different Nashville players scored points in the defeat.

In the first period, there were no goals scored. It was a pretty even period with both teams having about 10 shots in the first period.

In the second period, Simon Holmstrom scored for the Islanders. That gave them a 1-0 lead. Then, Ryan O’Reilly scored for Nashville to tie the game at 1. That was a shorthanded goal. The period ended tied 1-1.

In the third period, there were no goals scored. In overtime, nobody scored, and in the shootout, Filip Forsberg was the only one to score, which gave the Predators a 2-1 lead. That is how the game ended. The Islanders got a loser point.

Rittich Gets the Start

David Rittich started this game for the Islanders. This was even though starting Goaltender Ilya Sorokin set the Islanders’ all-time shutout record on Tuesday, recording the 26th of his career, breaking a tie with Glen “Chico” Resch. Rittich played well, spelling the injured Sorokin, whose shutout was his fourth of the season. Rittich went 4-2-1 with a 2.30 goals against average, .911 percentage, and a shutout in Sorokin’s seven missing games.

Duclair Accolades

Anthony Duclair recorded his first career five-point game in the win against the Devils. Duclair was a healthy scratch in the two games before Tuesday. He scored his three goals on just three shots. It was his first multi-goal game of the season and first hat-trick since Dec. 14, 2019, when he was with the Ottawa Senators.

Islanders Head Coach Partick Roy said, “I’m happy for him, I know it was hard for him to be a healthy scratch the last couple games, so I’m pretty happy to see him bounce back tonight.” Duclair was the first National Hockey League player to notch a natural hat-trick, five or more points, and a plus-six rating in a game since Wayne Gretzky did it on February 18, 1981.

Horvat Injury Update Again

Bo Horvat did not play in this game, though he is expected to rejoin the team on this seven-game road trip. As for now, he continues to be limited in practice, though he traveled with the team.

News and Notes

• In a completely unrelated note, Patrick Kane scored his 500th goal for the Detroit Red Wings last night.
• Nashville has 42 points and is three points back of the second Wild Card in the Western Conference, after a slow start to the season. The Islanders are in second place in the Metropolitan Division, 3 points back of the Carolina Hurricanes.
• Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly have led the Predators revival since November 26, with the veteran forwards each recording 23 points over that span. O’Reilly scored for Nashville tonight.
• With a win, the Islanders would have pushed their winning streak to three games. This was the first game of a seven-game road trip for them.
• The Islanders came into this game 25-14-4. They were 10-7-2 on the road this season.

Parting Thoughts

Nashville, though playing better, is still weaker than the Islanders. So, the Islanders needed to win this game. The Islanders next play the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.