Predators See Four-Game Win Streak Snapped in 2-1 Loss to Maple Leafs

The Nashville Predators saw their four-game win streak come to an end Wednesday with a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.
The loss also ended Nashville's point streak at six games (5-0-1) dating back to Dec. 30. The Preds are now 5-1-1 in their last seven games.

THE STORY

The Leafs won a neutral zone battle and converted in transition late in the first period, as William Nylander got the puck to the front of the net and John Tavares finished on the backhand for his 20th goal of the season at 16:54.
With the Preds down 1-0 to start the second frame, Juuso Parssinen fed a cross-crease pass to Filip Forsberg, who found the back of the net to tie things up at 1-1 less than two minutes into the period.

The score remained knotted at 1-1 until the final minutes of regulation, when a high-sticking double minor on Mark Jankowski led to a four-minute power play for Toronto. Mitch Marner buried a wrist shot on the man advantage with 1:15 remaining for the 2-1 final.
Juuse Saros made 33 saves in goal for the Preds, who fell to 18-15-6 on the season.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Absolutely FILthy
With his second-period tally, Forsberg extended his team lead in points to 37 (17g-20a) and his team lead in goals to 17. He now has 33 points (15g-18a) in his last 33 games dating back to Oct. 22 vs. Philadelphia.
Juuso Adds a Helper
Parssinen, who made his NHL debut on Nov. 12 vs. the New York Rangers, added another assist on Forsberg's goal and has 14 points (3g-11a) in his first 26 career NHL games. He now has five points (5a) in his last four games.
Parssinen tallied two assists on Dec. 21 at Chicago, Dec. 30 at Anaheim and Thursday at Carolina. His 14 points since Nov. 12 are tied for the third-most among NHL rookies in that time span and tied for the 13th-most among NHL rookies since the start of the 2022-23 season.

THEY SAID IT

Josi on Nashville's overall effort against Toronto:
"I thought it was good. [Toronto's] a good team - they're one of the top teams in the League - and I thought in the first period they played better. I thought they had more chances, and we didn't execute as well as we could have, especially coming out of our zone. And I thought as the game went on we got better and better. Obviously unfortunate to lose that way, but I thought we played hard. It was an even game and we probably deserved to go to OT."
Forsberg on Nashville's overall effort against Toronto:
"We started badly in the first period, we weren't executing with the puck. And then the second period was way better obviously - we got a goal and we took the game back to us a little bit. And then the third - [we took] obviously an unfortunate penalty there. Our penalty killers did a great job all game, but unfortunately couldn't get that last one."
Coach Hynes on Nashville's overall effort against Toronto:
"I thought it was pretty good. In the first period they had the better of the play. I liked our second and third periods and it was a pretty even game. Unfortunately, we had that penalty at the end and we did a good job on the penalty kill all night and killed the majority of that one off, but they're a good team, and they're good on the power play. You can't give them those looks and we allowed their power play to be a difference in the game."
Josi on getting set for Montreal tomorrow evening:
"We've got to put this behind us and I think obviously we have to work on some things, but I thought the overall effort was pretty good. It was a really tough game, so we're going to take a lot from this game and get even better tomorrow."
Coach Hynes on getting set for Montreal tomorrow evening:
"Right now it's all about Montreal. You've got to put this one to bed and then you've got to be ready tomorrow. It's a short turnaround, but I think that's good. Our team game is going in the right direction. We'll be a hungry group to finish a road trip the right way and that's what our challenge is but that's what our mindset will be."

UP NEXT

The Predators will wrap up their five-game road trip against Eastern Conference opponents with a visit to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. Puck drops at 6 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on Bally Sports South, 102.5 The Game and El Jefe Radio.