Surging Predators end Kings' winning streak

Field Level Media|published: Fri 23rd February, 01:18 2024

Feb 22, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) controls the puck against Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (84) during the first period at Crypto.com Arena. credits: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Colton Sissons had a goal and two assists and Juuse Saros made 27 saves as the visiting Nashville Predators ended the Los Angeles Kings' four-game winning streak with a 4-1 win on Thursday.

Jeremy Lauzon had a goal and an assist and Mark Jankowski and Yakov Trenin also scored for the Predators, who have won three in a row for the first time since a four-game winning streak Dec. 10-16.

Kevin Fiala scored and David Rittich made 17 saves for the Kings, who are 5-2-0 since Jim Hiller took over as interim head coach on Feb. 2.

The Predators took a 1-0 lead at 8:47 of the first period.

Sissons entered the Los Angeles zone on a rush and tried to drop a pass to Luke Schenn trailing on the play, but the puck went off the skate of Kings forward Anze Kopitar and against the wall.

Sissons retrieved the puck and made a no-look backhand pass between two defenders to Trenin entering the play. He gathered the puck as he skated through the left circle and then out-waited Rittich before sliding the puck into the net with a backhand.

The Kings went on their first power play at 10:59, but Nashville recorded the only shot on goal during the man advantage.

Cole Smith was called for high sticking at 17:44 and Trenin for was whistled tripping a minute later and the Kings capitalized on the five on three.

Fiala received a pass in the high slot with room to get close and he hit the net at 19:07 of the first to tie it 1-1.

Jankowski gave Nashville a 2-1 lead at 14:46 of the second period.

Luke Evangelista took a shot from along the goal line that hit Rittich, but he lost sight of the puck as it lay between his pads and Jankowski shot it into the net.

Sissons scored an empty-net goal with 3:00 left to give the Predators a 3-1 lead, and Lauzon scored another empty netter with 53 seconds remaining for the 4-1 final.

Nashville stayed even in points with the St. Louis Blues for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference and pulled within four points of the Kings for the first wild card.

—Field Level Media

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