NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Ottawa Senators triumphed over the Nashville Predators with a score of 5-2 on Monday night, lifting their road record to .500 at 13-13-2. Adam Gaudette and David Perron each scored one goal and contributed one assist, playing pivotal roles in the victory over the struggling Predators, who have now lost five games consecutively.
The game, held at Bridgestone Arena, kicked off with Filip Forsberg putting the Predators on the board first, scoring at 3:59 of the second period. After Forsberg's goal, the Senators responded effectively, with Gaudette tying the game midway through the second period by converting on a rebound from Tim Stutzle's shot. With this assist, Stutzle, at just 23 years and 19 days old, became the youngest player to reach 300 points as a Senator.
Nashville's Jonathan Marchessault managed to equalize the game 47 seconds after the start of the third period. The excitement was short-lived for the Predators, as Pinto scored at 6:17 to regain the lead for Ottawa. Following Pinto's goal, Perron added another for the Senators on the power play with just 5:54 left on the clock, finalizing Nashville's defeat.
The loss marks the fifth straight for the Predators, which significantly decreases their already slim chances of making the playoffs. After achieving their season-high five-game winning streak earlier, the team seems to have hit its nadir, leaving fans wondering what will happen next.
"Juuse Saros made 33 saves for the Predators, losers of five in a row," one source reported, encapsulating the rough patch facing Nashville.
Meanwhile, on the Senators' side, the victory showcased their strength, especially on the road. Their upcoming schedule sees them facing the Tampa Bay Lightning for two games over the following days, which could prove to be challenging.
The standout moment of the night, aside from the impressive goal tally, came from Roman Josi. Playing his 957th career game, all with Nashville, Josi made history by surpassing David Legwand to become the player with the most games played for the Nashville franchise.
With the Ottawa Senators enjoying the victory march and building momentum, the Nashville Predators will need to regroup quickly as they head to Chicago to face the Blackhawks on Friday. The stakes are high for both teams moving forward, making the remaining fixtures of the NHL season particularly riveting.