Predators Have No Answer for Nico Hischier in 5-2 Loss to Devils

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.

Related: Predators Trade Tomasino to Penguins

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

Predators defenseman Jeremy Lauzon left the game after an awkward hit along the boards late in the second period and did not return.
L’Heureux did not return to the bench after leaving the ice bloody from the Meier cross-check.
The Predators snapped an 11-game streak of being outshot by their opponent in Saturday’s victory over the Winnipeg Jets, but they fell back into their old ways against New Jersey. Nashville was outshot 42-21 against New Jersey, including by a 16-3 margin in the third period alone.

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.

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