NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In an impressive showing, Andrew Copp netted two goals while Alex Lyon turned away 37 shots, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-2 victory over the struggling Nashville Predators on Saturday night.
Vladimir Tarasenko, Dylan Larkin, and Simon Edvinsson also contributed by scoring for Detroit, marking an encouraging victory for a team that had stumbled with three losses in their first four games of the season.
Nashville, still seeking its first win, had Steven Stamkos score his initial goal as a Predator, supported by another from Luke Schenn. Juuse Saros, the Predators’ goaltender, managed 19 saves during the match.
With this defeat, Nashville has now fallen to a challenging record of 0-5-0, placing them as the only team in the NHL yet to earn a point this season.
Stamkos’ power-play goal mere seconds into the third period was particularly noteworthy as it marked a significant milestone, being his first goal since signing a lucrative four-year, $32 million contract during the offseason.
In an interesting note, both of the Red Wings’ victories this season have come at the expense of the Predators.
Key Insights: The Red Wings’ Larkin has shown consistent scoring ability, achieving a point-per-game record over the last three seasons. After five games this season, he boasts three goals along with an assist.
On the other side, the Predators are experiencing their roughest start since the 2002-03 season, when they recorded a winless stretch of 0-4-1-2. However, unlike that time when the franchise operated under a tight budget, Nashville has made significant investments in talent during their offseason, acquiring players like Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei.
A pivotal moment occurred when Joe Veleno intercepted a clearing attempt by Nashville defenseman Alexandre Carrier and quickly set up Copp for the decisive goal, coming just minutes after Stamkos had equalized the game at 2.
Additionally, statistics show that every loss this season for Nashville, with the exception of one, has occurred on home ice. Going back to last season’s playoff series against Vancouver, the Predators are now on a streak of seven consecutive home defeats.
Looking ahead, the Red Wings are set to face off against the New York Islanders on Tuesday, while the Predators aim to turn their fortunes around when they host the Boston Bruins to finish a four-game homestand that same evening.