Preds Complete Season Sweep of Devils With 6-4 Win

The Nashville Predators came from behind three times to defeat the New Jersey Devils 6-4 on Thursday at Bridgestone Arena.
Eleven different players found the scoresheet for the Predators, led by Matt Duchene (1g-1a), Colton Sissons (2a) and Juuso Parssinen (2a) with two points apiece. Juuse Saros made 35 saves in goal for the Preds, who improved to 24-18-6 heading into the NHL All-Star break.

THE STORY

The Devils and the Predators scored a pair of goals each in a busy first period that also saw Nashville go 1-for-2 on the power play and outshoot New Jersey 23-8. Jesper Bratt opened the scoring for New Jersey off the rush, first faking a slap shot from the circle and then slipping a wrister past Juuse Saros to give the Devils a 1-0 lead.
Cody Glass tied it up for the Preds on the power play, pounding in the rebound on a shot from Tommy Novak to make it 1-1 at 12:24 of the first. Jack Hughes set up Yegor Sharangovich to help New Jersey retake the lead at 15:57, but the Preds responded less than a minute later when Cole Smith deflected a Juuso Parssinen shot into the back of the net to knot the score at 2-2 heading into the first intermission.
Hughes put the Devils back on top early in the second period, tipping in a Dougie Hamilton rebound to make it 3-2 at 4:06. The Preds got the equalizer when Ryan Johansen played the puck off the side wall and dished it to Mikael Granlund, who tucked it past Mackenzie Blackwood to tie the game once again at 3-3.
Matt Duchene broke the tie at 8:49 of the third period, driving up the middle and putting in his own rebound to put Nashville up 4-3. Filip Forsberg extended it to 5-3 at 16:05, receiving a stretch pass from Duchene and scoring on the breakaway.
Dawson Mercer brought the Devils within one at 17:46 when he scored from the left face-off circle, but Tanner Jeannot restored Nashville's two-goal lead with an empty-net goal at 19:52 for the 6-4 final.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Glass Hysteria
With his first-period tally, Glass now owns 15 points (6g-9a) in his last 22 games. He has found the scoresheet in six of his last eight contests, posting seven points (3g-4a) during that time span. The 23-year-old center has established career highs in goals (7), assists (11) and points (18) this season.

Radical Rookie
With assists on both of Nashville's first-period goals, Parssinen now has 22 points (5g-17a) in his first 34 games. Per NHL PR, among players to debut with the Predators, only three rookies have recorded their first 20 NHL points in fewer games: Craig Smith (25 GP), Alexander Radulov (29 GP) and Filip Forsberg (32 GP).

Granimal Style
With his game-tying goal in the second period, Granlund now has 15 points (8g-7a) in 17 career games vs. New Jersey. In Nashville's dramatic 4-3 overtime win in Newark on Dec. 1, Granlund tied the game at 3-3 with 10 seconds remaining in the third period, the third-latest game-tying goal in franchise history. It was also the third time in Predators history the team has tied a game with 10 seconds or less remaining in the third period and went on to win in overtime or a shootout.

Dutchy in the Clutch
With his go-ahead goal and an assist on Forsberg's tally in the third period, Duchene now has 17 points (8g-9a) in his last 20 games. He scored in four straight contests from Dec. 17-23 (4g) and had a five-game point streak from Dec. 15-23 (4g-1a).
Duchene has produced at more than a point-per-game pace in his career vs. the Devils, tallying eight goals and 23 points in 22 games. He has 14 points (5g-9a) in his last nine meetings with New Jersey, including consecutive three-point efforts on Feb. 6, 2018 and Nov. 6, 2018.

QUICK HITS

THEY SAID IT

Forsberg on the win:
"I thought we played pretty solid. There was just a little bit in the start of the second period where we kind of fell off our rhythm, but everything else was pretty solid. I thought the third period was great. I thought we pushed all the way through that one and went out there and earned it. They're obviously a good team and that was a good win for us."

Duchene on the win before the All-Star break:
"I felt like we were the better team from start to finish. Start of the second they came out and we weren't quite at our best but the last three games we've beaten teams, we haven't hung on and we didn't have to rely on our goaltenders to steal this one. It was, games where we've come out and won games and that's the type of game that we need to play most nights and you know, I think we've got a really good little stretch here so we will get some rest here. It's been hectic. I know we're all exhausted and still trying to catch up on rest and sleep, especially us dads. But this will be a good break."
Duchene on the ups and downs of the season:
"I think we've had a lot of games this year where we've kind of had the right performance and attitude, it just hasn't gone in. So it's nice. Obviously the goals haven't come as easy for any of us this year as they did last year. But it doesn't mean I can't change at any point. I think you just have to stay with the process and stay with what makes you successful. Just because it doesn't go in doesn't mean you're not playing well or not doing the right thing. So we've tried to keep our head up through that. And, fortunately lately it's going at the right time for us as a team."
Forsberg on the Predators hitting their stride:
"If you go back, I think since before Christmas, I think we've been playing better hockey. There's obviously been a bad game here and there since then, but for the most part, I think our effort is there. I think we're competing better, we're doing the right things the right way and the results are coming. Sometimes this game is pretty simple."
Granlund on the message heading into the All-Star break:
"Just take the rest now and remember this feeling after the games, how we worked and how we played and let's just take our brains off from hockey for a little bit and then come back energized."

Hynes on the win:
"I think coming into the week we talked a lot about consistency and getting to a game that gives us the best chance to win and I thought we did that. The buzzword was consistency, night in and night out. I thought we put together three pretty complete games. And we played with the emotion and the passion that you have to play with that gives you a good chance to win. So I think it was a good week for us."
Hynes on how the Predators have improved:
"I think the ability to respond is obviously important and it was a factor tonight, but tonight, I felt like for basically most of the game we were in control of the game, but we weren't in control of the scoreboard at times. And I give the leaders of the team a lot of credit. I think our offensive game has improved. And I think in all three games we had a majority of the play. So sometimes when you do that you get scored on. I think if we're going to be able to continue to play the right way and do the right things, we're going to be able to put the puck in the back of the net."

UP NEXT

The Predators will return to action following the NHL All-Star break to host the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 7 at Bridgestone Arena. The puck drops at 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on Bally Sports South, 102.5 The Game and El Jefe Radio.