The Nashville Predators lost their fifth consecutive game – and their fourth in a row by an identical score of 3-2 – falling to the Toronto Maple Leafs in regulation Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena.
For the 17th time this season, the Predators were held to two goals or fewer in a game. After Jonathan Marchessault gave Nashville a 1-0 lead early in the first period, the Predators struggled to generate offense and allowed Toronto to score three unanswered in the third.
Juuse Saros made 25 saves in the loss for the Predators, who fall to 7-13-6 on the season.
How the Predators lined up vs. Toronto
Forsberg – O’Reilly – Nyquist
Stamkos – Novak – Marchessault
Jankowski – Svechkov – Evangelista
L’Heureux – Sissons – Smith
Josi – Carrier
Skjei – Blankenburg
Wilsby – Schenn
Saros
Annunen
Extra: Del Gaizo, Pärssinen, McCarron, Lauzon*
*Forward Michael McCarron missed his sixth consecutive game since being placed on Injured Reserve with an upper-body injury. Jeremy Lauzon is also week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Game Summary
The Predators got on the board first as Marchessault snapped a four-game scoring drought in highly unusual fashion. After Roman Josi forced a turnover behind the Nashville net, Marchessault carried the puck through the zone against four Toronto defenders and fired the puck off the glass behind the Toronto goal. The puck rebounded into the crease, and Marchessault pounced to punch it in and give Nashville an early 1-0 lead.
The Predators held their own defensively against the Maple Leafs’ scoring attack in the second period, holding them to just seven shots in the frame. But offense was still hard to come by for Nashville, who managed only three shots in the period. Josi and Nick Blankenburg each took pucks up high during the period, sending them to the bench for repairs, but neither missed any ice time.
Auston Matthews broke the ice for Toronto just 31 seconds into the third period to tie the score at 1-1. He scored his second goal just two minutes later, taking a drop pass from Marner, deking around Gustav Nyquist and burying the puck between Saros’ pads to give the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead.
William Nylander made it 3-1 at 5:06 of the third period when he one-timed a backhand pass from Matthew Knies past Saros on a 5-on-3 power play.
Mark Jankowski, who had switched spots with Zachary L’Heureux on Nashville’s fourth line, got the Predators within one with his first goal of the season at 16:38. Nashville showed signs of life, putting 12 shots on goal in the third period alone after managing just three in the second, but Leafs goalie Joseph Woll held on for the win with 22 saves.
Key Takeaways
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Marchessault’s goal in the first period, his fifth as a member of the Predators, marked his 500th career NHL point. According to NHL PR, Marchessault joined Artemi Panarin (810) and Mats Zuccarello (650) as the third active undrafted player to record 500 points.
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With an assist on Marchessault’s goal, Roman Josi extended his point streak to six games. He has nine points (5 goals, 4 assists) in that span.
Up Next
The Predators continue their three-game Canadian road trip Thursday with a visit to the Montreal Canadiens. The puck drops at 6 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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