Predators - 3, Rangers - 4: Josi, Sissons, and O'Reilly Score But Rangers Outlast Predators

The New York Rangers are one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now thanks to offensive production up and down the lineup, quality goaltending, and some of the best special teams in the league. They have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games are entered today's game off of a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. 

The Predators got off to a much better start than they did against the Minnesota Wild getting several chances on net against Igor Shesterkin and interrupting the Rangers' breakout chances with pesky forechecking. 

An odd play resulted in Nashville's first goal as a pass went past Spencer Stastney at the blue line and appeared it would clear all the way down ice but instead bounced off the official in the neutral zone.  Nashville was able to quickly re-enter the zone and Liam Foudy found Ryan O'Reilly who wristed the puck past Shesterkin at 6:19.

The Rangers answered back with offensive zone time of their own. Midway through the period both teams generated quality chances, but both goaltenders managed the high danger shots. A tripping call on Barclay Goodrow at 14:15 gave the Predators the first power play of the game. Roman Josi skated the puck to the top of the circles and scored at 15:52 to give Nashville a 2-0 lead. The Predators headed into the locker room with a two goal lead and a shots on goal advantage of 17-7 after the first period. 

Jacob Trouba wasted no time getting the Rangers on the board tapping the puck past Lankinen off of a pass behind the goal from Vincent Trocheck in the first minute of the second period. Ryan Lindgren hooked Gus Nyquist at 2:42 giving the Predators their second chance on the power play. The Preds were able to set up but not able to convert on the man advantage. 

A too many men bench minor gave the Rangers another chance on the power play at 6:50, but it was Colton Sissons that scored on a shorthanded chance at 7:28, his third shorthanded goal of the season. Chris Kreider batted a deflected puck past Lankinen as time expired on the Rangers power play to make it a 3-2 game. 

On the next play Jusso Pärssinen was whistled for boarding on former Predator Nick Bonino. It took less than ten seconds for Vincent Trocheck to cash in on the man advantage and tie the game up at 9:11. 

New York's quick goals gave the Rangers momentum, and it took the Predators time to settle down and get back to the game that had worked for them in the first period. A high stick by Ryan Lindgren sent him back to the penalty box at 13:42, but Nashville couldn't capitalize on the power play despite a quick flurry in front of the net. 

As the period wound down, the Predators began to pressure offensively once again. The teams headed into the second intermission tied 3-3 and Nashville having a 27-17 shot advantage after forty minutes of play. 

Nashville got an early power play chance in the third period after Will Cuylle caught Michael McCarron with a high stick. The Preds power play again got set up but couldn't get a shot past Shesterkin on the man advantage. The Rangers took their first lead of the game at 5:10 as a shot was deflected past Lankinen. Ryan Lindgren was credited with the goal through the net front traffic. 

With the loss of the lead and ten minutes remaining in regulation, Nashville began picking up their offensive pressure. Juuso Pärssinen had a quality chance drawing Shesterkin out of position but overskated the net. 

The Predators went empty net with two minutes remaining and added the extra attacker. Nashville had quality looks as time would down, but an icing call with just :07 seconds left sealed their fate, and the Predators lost 4-3 to the Rangers. 

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