Forsberg Sets Another Franchise Record as Preds Beat Ducks

Another night, another franchise record.
Filip Forsberg and Matt Duchene both tallied twice, and the Nashville Predators defeated the Anaheim Ducks by a 6-3 final on Monday night at Honda Center. The result gives the Preds wins in their last two outings and a bump to third in the Central Division to start their three-game trip.
Both Forsberg and Duchene tied the franchise record - in the third period, no less - for goals in a single season with 34, but then Forsberg finished the night with an empty-netter for No. 35 and another spot in the record books. Forsberg also tallied five points on the evening (2g-3a) to tie the franchise record for points in a single game and become the first Preds player to record multiple five-point outings for the club.

Roman Josi and Ryan Johansen also found the back of the net on Monday, and Juuse Saros made 25 saves in net to earn his 31st victory of the season.
Anaheim was the better team to start the night, and they took a 1-0 lead when former Preds forward Derek Grant beat Juuse Saros on a rebound in the first period, but before the opening frame was out, Philip Tomasino found Josi who sniped a shot past John Gibson to even things up for the visitors.

Johansen gave Nashville their first lead of the night on a power play early in the second stanza when he knocked a loose puck home, but Anaheim's turn to tie the game arrived when Troy Terry converted on a delayed penalty.
But then, with the teams entering the final frame with a 2-2 draw, Forsberg flew into the zone less than two minutes in and tied the franchise's single-season goal record with his 34th of the campaign. Not to be outdone, Duchene tallied between his legs on the man advantage at the 3:08 mark with his 33rd on the season, and just a bit later, No. 95 took a feed from Forsberg on the power play and one-timed his 34th into the twine.

Grant got his second to cut the Nashville lead to 5-3, but then, Forsberg finished the night and set the record with one of the prettier empty-net markers in recent memory as he passed the puck to himself across the crease as he went behind the cage to emerge on the other side and tap the biscuit over the line.
Josi extended his point streak to 10 games and became the first active defenseman to record multiple double-digit runs in his career (also 12 GP in 2019-20). The NHL's last blueliner to achieve the feat was Nicklas Lidstrom (11 GP in 2010-11 & 10 GP in 1999-00).
Duchene extended his point streak to 10 games and became just the fifth player in franchise history to post a double-digit run.

Monday Storyline:

Following Monday afternoon's NHL Trade Deadline, Predators General Manager David Poile discussed a desire to keep his team together thanks to his satisfaction with their production and success throughout the season.
A few hours later in Anaheim, the Preds proved their GM right again.
The effort wasn't perfect, but as Predators Head Coach John Hynes stated, good teams find ways to win. Nashville did that to start their three-game trip, and they remain very much in the thick of the playoff race because of that result.
"It was a decent game for us…and I don't necessarily think it was an identity game for us, but I give the guys credit coming out here and facing a hungry team," Hynes said. "[The Ducks] had a lot of changes to the team [after the Trade Deadline], and they came out fast and hungry. I just liked the way that we stayed with it. You have to find different ways to win every night, and I felt we were able to do that."
"It obviously ended up being pretty good after all," Forsberg said. "I thought the first two periods we weren't really playing to our best, and I think Juice kept us in the game… They were taking it to us a little in the first two, and in the third we obviously came out hard. The power play was great all night, and we took it back in the third, finished the game the right way and got the win."

The third period alone was one for the ages with both Duchene and Forsberg going back and forth to see who could hit the franchise record for goals in a single season while trying to lead their team to victory.
Forsberg hit No. 34 first early in the third, but two strikes from Duchene brought the wingers even once more. But then, after Forsberg also hit a personal career high, he topped that total - and took yet another franchise record - just two days after his 211th career goal hit the franchise mark for all-time tallies.
Indeed, just another night of record breaking for the Preds.
"It's been huge the way that we've been playing," Forsberg said. "I mean, the whole team has been playing pretty well all season… The way Dutchy's playing right now, too, it just makes it so easy. I just try to keep up with him and keep up with Joey, playing with him. I try to do my thing, and I think we all complement each other really well."

"The great thing is that we're pushing each other," Duchene said of playing with Forsberg. "If you're going to achieve greatness, you might as well do it together, and if you're going to achieve big things, you might as well do it together. It doesn't matter who ends up on top at the end of the day. We're both having the best years of our careers right now. It doesn't matter, that part of it. I think the competition is great, and Josi pushes us, too. He's been racking up the points, and I think we're all competitive with each other, but in the right way where we push each other to be better and elevate. If you don't have that internal fire to be great and to be the best and try to achieve that, I think you're in the wrong sport. So, I think all three of us have that, and we're pushing each other and it's a really great thing. We're working together at the same time, and that hasn't changed one bit."
With the Trade Deadline now in the rearview, the Preds also know the makeup of their team won't be changing drastically, either. This is the group for the Predators as they continue their push to the postseason, and much like Poile, those on the ice didn't want to see major change.
They got their wish, and now, with the final six weeks of the regular season officially underway, the Preds can't wait to keep collecting points.
"You come into the deadline, at the position that we're in, thinking, if anything, you're not going to subtract," Duchene said. "And so it didn't surprise me [that we didn't make major changes], because we've had a great year and we have an outstanding group. We're tight, and we play well on the ice together. It's one of the tightest-knit groups I've ever been a part of - I can only really think of probably one other team that can touch this that I've been on. So, it's been a lot of fun, and it's great to see the same faces in the locker room today as yesterday."

Highlight of the Night:

They Said It:

John Hynes on Jeremy Lauzon's first game with the Preds:
"I thought it was a good game for him. He's a good skater, moves the puck really well, he's physical, plays with a little edge to his game, and I give him a lot of credit. It's not easy coming in the trade yesterday, flew in this morning, came in for a quick morning skate and sat down with the assistant coaches to talk a little bit about some system stuff, and then he's got to be ready to play. It was nice for him to be able to get here to be with us. His first game was a win, and I thought he stepped in and played pretty well. [He's going to make] more improvements and continue to get integrated into the fabric of our team, and it's certainly nice to have him."

Notes:

The NHL Trade Deadline arrived prior to Monday's game, and the Preds made a pair of deals on the day, including the acquisition of blueliner Alex Biega from Toronto and a minor trade that saw forward Brayden Burke join the organization from Los Angeles.
Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon, who was acquired Sunday night from Seattle, joined the Preds in Anaheim and made his Nashville debut on Monday night while recording four hits and two shot blocks in 18:12 of ice time.
Preds defenseman Mark Borowiecki returned to the lineup on Monday after missing time due to injury. However, blueliner Mattias Ekholm did not play Monday due to a non-COVID illness and is day-to-day. Forward Matt Luff and defenseman Ben Harpur were scratched.
Nashville's three-game road trip will continue on Tuesday night when the Preds face the Kings in Los Angeles before finishing Thursday night in Las Vegas.