Nashville 5, Los Angeles 2
When: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, March 21, 2016
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees:
Dean Morton, Chris Rooney
Linesmen:
Michel Cormier, Matt MacPherson
Attendance:
17113
By The Sports Xchange
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A second-period outburst was enough for the Nashville Predators to hold off the Los Angeles Kings and earn two points in a preview of a potential first-round Western Conference playoff matchup.
Center Ryan Johansen collected three points, including a critical goal that blunted Los Angeles' third-period rally, as Nashville bagged a 5-2 verdict Monday night at sold-out Bridgestone Arena.
The Predators (37-23-13) moved within four points of the Chicago Blackhawks for third place in the Central Division while denying the playoff-bound Kings (44-23-5) a chance to extend their Pacific Division lead over the Anaheim Ducks to six points.
Los Angeles scored its goals in the third period's first eight minutes. After left winger Tanner Pearson's deflection of a Drew Doughty point blast got the Kings on the board 32 seconds into the period, defenseman Alec Martinez cut the deficit to a goal with a wrister from the point at 8:00.
However, Johansen supplied much-needed insurance by tipping a point shot by defenseman Shea Weber past backup goalie Jhonas Enroth at 11:45 for his 13th goal.
Defenseman Roman Josi tacked on an empty-netter at 19:31.
Predators goalie Pekka Rinne nabbed his 30th win by making 28 saves. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick stopped 24 of 27 shots before being pulled after two periods. Enroth saved one of the two shots he faced.
Josi and James Neal each had a goal and an assist for Nashville, while Los Angeles center Anze Kopitar recorded two assists.
After a physical first period produced a combined 29 hits -- 18 by Los Angeles -- and 21 shots but no goals, Nashville lit the lamp three times in one of its best second periods of the season.
Neal initiated the onslaught at 7:37, wristing a 40-footer from the top of the left faceoff circle to the stick side of Quick for his 28th goal of the season. It came directly off a faceoff win by Johansen.
Mike Fisher made it 2-0 at 13:17 with a power-play goal off a rebound, his 12th goal. The Kings were short-handed after a botched line change left them with at least seven men on the ice when the whistle blew.
Left winger Filip Forsberg capped the outburst at 15:23 with his 30th goal on a backhander at the left goal post, making him the fifth player in franchise history to reach that mark in a season.
NOTES: Los Angeles RW Kris Versteeg (foot) sat out after leaving Saturday night's win over Boston when he was struck by a shot. ... Nashville LW Eric Nystrom (foot) returned to the lineup after sitting out the last 23 games after D Shea Weber hit him with a slap shot in Vancouver Jan. 26. ... The Kings scratched D Jamie McBain, while LW Austin Watson was the lone Predators scratch. ... Nashville honored C Mike Fisher in pregame ceremonies for playing his 1,000th NHL game on March 3.
Top Game Performances
| Los Angeles |
|
Nashville |
|
Anze Kopitar 2 |
Points |
Ryan Johansen 3 |
|
Drew Doughty 1 |
Goals |
Ryan Johansen 1 |
|
Anze Kopitar 2 |
Assists |
Ryan Johansen 2 |
|
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
Mike Fisher 1 |
|
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
|
Jonathan Quick .889 |
Save Percentage |
Pekka Rinne .933 |
|
Jonathan Quick 24 |
Saves |
Pekka Rinne 28 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
| Los Angeles
|
30 |
2 |
0-4 |
1-2 |
4 |
28 |
| Nashville
|
30 |
5 |
1-2 |
4-4 |
8 |
32 |
Upcoming Games
-
Nashville will play their next game at home against Vancouver. The Predators have a W/L % of .417 after a win and .595 after a loss.
-
Los Angeles will play their next game on the road against Minnesota. The Kings have a W/L % of .556 after a win and .704 after a loss.
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