Predators take down Wild to end skid

Field Level Media|published: Thu 25th January, 23:22 2024

Jan 25, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber (7) poke-checks the puck away from Nashville Predators forward Gustav Nyquist (14) during the first period at Xcel Energy Center. credits: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

The Nashville Predators scored all three of their goals in the third period and held on for a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night in St. Paul, Minn.

Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead Nashville, which snapped a two-game skid. Alexandre Carrier and Filip Forsberg also scored for the Predators, and Ryan O'Reilly recorded two assists.

Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy each scored a goal for Minnesota. Kirill Kaprizov had two assists for the Wild, whose three-game winning streak ended.

Juuse Saros stopped 22 of 24 shots to earn the victory.

Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson turned aside 25 of 28 shots in the loss.

The game remained scoreless until midway through the second period.

Eriksson Ek broke the stalemate with a power-play goal for the Wild with 7:16 left in the period. Kaprizov fired a wrist shot from the slot, and Eriksson Ek tipped it into the net as he stood near the front of the crease.

The play marked Eriksson Ek's team-leading 21st goal of the season and his sixth goal in the past six games.

The Predators pulled even 1:44 into the third period. Yakov Trenin fed a perfect pass to Carrier as he raced toward the net, and Carrier beat Gustavsson stick-side for his fourth goal.

Thirty-five seconds later, Nashville seized a 2-1 lead. Josi blasted a rising slap shot from near the blue line, and Forsberg redirected it into the net for his team-leading 23rd goal.

Josi made it 3-1 in favor of the Predators with 8:26 remaining in the third period. His shot from the top of the right circle hit Wild defenseman Brock Faber and deflected into the net.

The Wild cut the deficit to 3-2 with 3:51 to go. Boldy scored on the power play for his 16th goal.

Nashville thought it notched a goal in the first period, but officials changed their call to no goal after huddling for a conversation. A video review confirmed the on-ice officials' decision after determining that Predators forward Michael McCarron's stick was above the crossbar when he deflected a shot into the net.

—Field Level Media

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