Predators beat Kraken 4-2 for 3rd straight win

SEATTLE (AP) — Mattias Ekholm scored the go-ahead purpose late within the second interval and the Nashville Predators beat the Seattle Kraken 4-2 on Tuesday night time.

The Predators additionally bought objectives from Filip Forsberg, Luke Kunin and Matt Duchene of their third straight win. Roman Josi added two assists, and Juuse Saros made 32 saves.

“I simply appreciated the very fact we had a reasonably gritty effort. We needed to keep it up. It wasn’t a simple recreation,” Nashville coach John Hynes stated.

Jared McCann and Adam Larsson scored for the Kraken.

Seattle entered with three wins within the final 4 video games, probably the greatest stretches of its inaugural season, and the Kraken took an early lead when McCann scored his team-leading sixteenth purpose on a 5-on-3 energy play 9 minutes in.

Nashville tied it 21 seconds earlier than the primary intermission on Kunin’s tenth purpose, a one-timer from the highest of the left circle.

Seattle once more took the lead within the second, going forward 2-1 when Yanni Gourde’s cross from behind the web discovered Larsson streaking in entrance with 7:39 left within the interval.

Forsberg tied it 2-all about three minutes later, taking the puck your entire size of the ice on a rush and ending along with his twenty first purpose.

“That shot is unbelievable,” Ekholm stated. “You would see the dedication he had behind the web, skating out. Nobody was catching him and he simply ripped one. There’s not too many gamers that may try this on this league.”

Philipp Grubauer made 23 saves for Seattle, and coach Dave Hakstol stated the Kraken want extra from their goaltender.

Nashville Predators' Matt Duchene (95) is congratulated after scoring towards the Seattle Kraken by Ryan Johansen (92) and Filip Forsberg within the third interval of an NHL hockey recreation Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Seattle.

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“The primary purpose, it’s a troublesome time, that’s a troublesome one, he’s bought to cease that. The second as properly. He’s going through shooter, however it’s from the skin,” Hakstol stated. “These are issues that may push a staff again on their heels. Not his finest, and he’ll must be higher in Pittsburgh a couple of nights from now.”

The Predators took the lead with 3 1/2 minutes left within the interval. Ekholm got here round behind the web and his wraparound shot deflected in off the skate of Seattle defenseman Vince Dunn.

Nashville added one other power-play purpose by Duchene with about 4 minutes to go within the third.

“I believe this group has proven time in and trip it doesn’t matter the rating, it doesn’t matter what number of objectives we’re down or up. We nonetheless battle, we’re in there battling,” Ekholm stated. “Clearly we’d like to leap up early, get lead and maintain onto it, however generally it’s good to your group to undergo totally different situations and feelings.”

NOTES: Nashville recalled F Cole Smith and D Matt Tennyson from the taxi squad. … Seattle was down two of its high six defensemen. Jamie Oleksiak (decrease physique) is day-to-day and missed his fourth straight recreation. Carson Soucy (decrease physique) is week-to-week after getting damage within the first interval Sunday towards Florida. … Kraken F Joonas Donskoi was again within the lineup. Donskoi was scratched Sunday after showing in every of the primary 40 video games.

UP NEXT

Nashville: Performs at Edmonton on Thursday.

Seattle: Performs at Pittsburgh on Thursday.

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