Forsberg scores 2, Predators hold off Kraken

NASHVILLE -- Filip Forsberg scored twice for the Nashville Predators in a 5-3 win against the Seattle Kraken at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

Brady Skjei, Michael McCarron and Luke Evangelista also scored for the Predators (23-32-7), who have won consecutive games. Steven Stamkos had two assists and Juuse Saros made 22 saves.

“It’s obviously a really tough time of the year,” Skjei said of the NHL Trade Deadline coming at 3 p.m. ET on Friday. “Every year it happens. You lose guys and friends that you’ve been battling with all year. I thought tonight was obviously a great answer for us.”

Michael Eyssimont scored in his debut for the Kraken (26-33-4), who have lost four of their past five. Joey Daccord made 29 saves.

The forward was traded to the Kraken from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday in a three-team deal that also involved the Detroit Red Wings.

“I really liked playing with them,” Eyssimont said of his line with Ben Meyers and Jacob Melanson. “I think we’ve got to find a way to trust each other a bit. We’re all running and gunning and excited so we’re kind of three guys on the puck. As the game went on, I think we started to trust each other more, and then that turned into a little bit of offense.”

Adam Larsson gave the Kraken a 1-0 lead 32 seconds into the first period on a backhand shot on a rebound from the left circle. Vince Dunn took the original shot from the point.

“We did score in the first minute of the game, which was a focus and it’s something,” Seattle coach Dan Bylsma said. “Got a good start. But shortly thereafter, the momentum turned. They put a lot of pressure on us. We didn’t break the puck out very well, a few turnovers. And gave them a lot of time in our [defensive] zone, a lot of time at our net.”

Forsberg scored for the Predators to make it 1-1 at 7:15 on a wrist shot from the slot on a pass from Colton Sissons. Dunn slipped and lost the puck to Sissons, who found Forsberg by himself in the slot.

Skjei gave the Predators a 2-1 lead at 3:33 of the second period on a wrist shot from the point on a pass from Stamkos.

Forsberg gave the Predators a 3-1 lead at 5:48 on a passing attempt that went in off of Kraken forward Shane Wright.

“Obviously we’ve certainly not been blessed with [offense] all season,” Forsberg said. “If we can take that with us and at least keep doing that, I thought we did a lot of good things to create chances today too. Could’ve had more, but it’s always nice to see them go in for sure.”

McCarron gave the Predators a 4-1 lead at 19:51 on a wraparound attempt. Ozzy Wiesblatt had the primary assist for his first NHL point in his fourth game.

“I thought we were good in three zones,” McCarron said. “I thought we were hungry on pucks and were wining a lot of puck battles. We were tenacious on the puck. I think playing with [forwards Jake Lucchini and Wiesblatt], those two guys made it pretty easy for me tonight. They were all over pucks. I thought our [defensemen] moved the puck well. It was a good, 60-minute effort for the most part.”

Jared McCann scored on the power play for the Kraken to make it 4-2 at 13:31 of the third period on a slap shot from the left circle.

Evangelista scored an empty-net goal to make it 5-2 at 17:15.

Eyssimont scored for the Kraken to make it 5-3 at 18:14 on a redirection.

NOTES: Forward Michael Bunting, who was traded to the Predators from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, missed the game because of appendix surgery. Predators coach Andrew Brunette said Bunting will miss at least one more game. … Melanson had four hits in 9:53 of ice time in his NHL debut. … Eyssimont had five shot attempts in 12:39.