The Nashville Predators took care of business against the Detroit Red Wings, sending the visiting team home with a 4-1 loss.
First period
Neither team found much success offensively in the first twenty minutes. The goaltenders looked strong, stifling any sort of quality chances that did arise.
The Red Wings had the best opportunity to score on a four minute power play (Filip Hronek was slashed in the face).
Second Period
After thirty minutes of play, it was starting to look like the game might end without a score on either side. But halfway through the second, the Predators finally found the back of the net with a flurry of goals. Nick Cousins nabbed a goal on the power play and over a minute later, Matt Duchene extended the lead to two.
In the final couple minutes of the period, Detroit started swinging momentum the other way. Adam Erne finally got the Red Wings on the board, zipping from the penalty box on the breakaway and beating the goaltender. With under a minute left in the period, Tyler Bertuzzi went to blows with Matt Benning.
Third Period
The Red Wings kept attacking the Predators in the offensive zone, but Nashville took care of business. Halfway through the period, Flip Forsberg extended the lead to two.
Detroit turned up the heat in the following minutes, but Nashville didn’t let another puck in. The Predators added an empty netter with under two minutes left, icing the game.
Detroit’s offense has been inconsistent all year, and it looks like after a recent hot stretch, the forwards are getting icy.
The Red Wings return home in their next matchup, hosting the Chicago Blackhawks.