NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Juuse Saros delivered an impressive performance with 33 saves, leading the Nashville Predators to a decisive 4-0 win against the Boston Bruins, thereby ending their season-opening five-game losing streak on Tuesday evening.
Both Ryan O’Reilly and Luke Evangelista contributed a goal and an assist each, while Tommy Novak and Gustav Nyquist added to the scoreboard for the Predators, who came into the match winless in the NHL. This game also marked Saros’ 25th career shutout.
Jeremy Swayman, in net for the Bruins, made 38 saves throughout the match.
O’Reilly kicked off the scoring, finding the net with 2:44 left in the first period. While the Predators were on a power play, Roman Josi unleashed a slap shot from above the right faceoff circle, which O’Reilly deftly redirected past Swayman into the net on the short side.
### Takeaways
For the Bruins, captain Brad Marchand has had a tough season thus far, returning from three offseason surgeries and remaining goal-less in seven games. On the other hand, the Predators underwent significant changes during the offseason, with several notable free agent acquisitions aimed at strengthening a team that has not progressed beyond the first round of the playoffs since 2018. However, the new roster struggled to find chemistry during their initial five-game stretch.
### Key Moment
A turning point occurred just two seconds after a double minor high-sticking penalty to Boston’s Charlie McAvoy ended. With Nashville ahead 1-0, Novak capitalized on a pass from Evangelista and scored from just outside the crease, doubling the lead to 2-0 before McAvoy could return to the ice.
### Key Stat
Swayman had previously achieved shutouts in his only two starts in Nashville, stopping a total of 70 shots in those contests. However, O’Reilly’s goal at the end of the first period snapped Swayman’s impressive shutout streak at Bridgestone Arena, which had lasted 136:34.
### Up Next
Looking ahead, the Bruins are set to welcome the Dallas Stars on Thursday to commence a three-game homestand. Meanwhile, the Predators will head to Chicago on Friday to take on the Blackhawks.