NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In an impressive performance, Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault each found the net twice, guiding Juuse Saros and the Nashville Predators to a decisive 4-0 victory over Utah on Saturday evening.
Saros showcased his skills with 26 saves, marking his second shutout this season and the 25th of his career. Roman Josi contributed significantly with two assists for the Predators, who had struggled recently with three consecutive losses.
On the other side, Connor Ingram managed 17 saves for Utah, which has encountered difficulties, losing three out of their last four games.
Saros and Forsberg, the team’s standout players, have provided some hope for the Predators amidst a tougher season, as Nashville holds a record of 5-9-1. Forsberg, in particular, leads the team with eight goals.
One of Saros’s standout saves occurred early in the first period at 2:57, when he skillfully redirected a shot from Nick Schmaltz after Forsberg had already put Nashville ahead 1-0.
Takeaways from the game include Utah’s ongoing struggles, as they were unable to score for the second time in three games, making it a total of four shutouts in their 15 games this season.
For the Predators, a win was crucial after losing five out of their last six matches. They are now set to embark on a two-week road trip, aiming to capitalize on this victory as momentum.
A significant moment in the match was Marchessault’s power-play goal at 11:58 in the first period. This followed a successful 2-minute penalty kill by Utah against a 5-on-3 situation for Nashville. The Predators maintained the man advantage since Utah’s Olli Maatta received a double-minor for high sticking, coinciding with Logan Cooley’s hooking penalty.
A notable statistic for Utah is their power play inefficiency; they missed scoring on two chances during the game and have struggled significantly, failing to convert in nine of their last ten games, with a mere 2 for 26 success rate in that context.
Looking ahead, Utah will face the Carolina Hurricanes at home on Wednesday, while the Predators will kick off a five-game road trip starting Monday against Colorado.