NHL Update: Nashville Predators defeat Los Angeles Kings 5-2, for 4th straight win
Patric Hornqvist added two goals and the Nashville Predators won their season-high fourth consecutive game, 5-2, against struggling Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.
Colin Wilson and Sergei Kostitsyn both scored a goal each and assisted twice, while Andres Lindback saved 24 of 26 shots in the win.
Marek Svatos recorded his first goal for Predators, who won consecutive contests in Southern California and sent Los Angeles to its season-worst fifth consecutive loss.
Jarret Stoll and Kyle Clifford both registered a goal each for Los Angeles, while Jonathan Bernier surrendered five goals of 28 shots in the loss.
"It's a big concern that we've given up 23 goals in five games," Kings' head coach Terry Murray said. "We haven't been able to get the job done."
After a goalless opening period, Los Angeles struck on the board first at 2:16 of the second period. Marco Sturm carried the puck into Predators zone and rang a shot on a 2-on-1 break but it was stopped. Clifford was there to get a rebound in front of the
net and tapped the puck home to give Kings a 1-0 lead.
At 7:47 remaining in the second period, Los Angeles gained a 2-0 advantage with Stoll's power-play goal. Stoll took a pass, paused for a moment and aimed the shot for the net past Lindback.
Kings appeared to be dominating play in the second period, but Predators scored three goals over the next seven minutes to take the lead for good.
At 8:57 of the second period, Predators cut the deficit to 2-1 on Wilson’s goal. Suter received a pass near the blue line from Kostitsyn. He paused for a second, found Wilson on the right side of net and slipped a pass to him through the traffic. Wilson
then easily tapped it home from close range.
Marek Svatos lit the lamp after 1:22 to equalize the game 2-2. Wilson got the puck at blue line and banged a shot rushing to the net. It was stopped by Bernier, but Svatos collected the rebound and sent it into the net.
"I thought after we scored that [first] goal we were really good," Nashville head coach Barry Trotz said. "I thought we recovered really well, we showed a lot of character and stayed with the game plan all night."
Hornqvist broke the tie with 5:32 left in the second period and put Predators ahead with a 3-2 lead. With Kings’ Matt Greene in the penalty box for interference, Hornqvist received a pass from Suter and fired a powerful shot through a pile of players into
the net.
This seven minutes' span of the second period made victory even more remarkable for Nashville while worse for the Kings.
Near the midway point of the third, Kostitsyn got a pass and rushed in the Kings' zone alone. His wrist shot from the left circle trickled past goalie to give Predators a two-goal edge.
Nashville finally sealed the win putting 5-2 on the board as Hornqvist capped his two-goal effort with 4:27 on the clock.
Tags: