The 32-year-old won the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the playoffs in 2019, when he helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup, and is expected to be Nashville's No. Louis Blues last season and nine points (three goals, six assists) in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games for Toronto. O'Reilly signed a four-year contract with the Predators on July 1 after he had 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 53 regular-season games for the Toronto Maple Leafs and St. I feel really confident we can get back to playing at a high level and do some damage.' 'It doesn't need to be torn down all the way, so to speak. 'I think that gave management the approach that we can ask the veterans and keep this thing moving,' the 34-year-old said Wednesday at Da Beauty League, a 4-on-4 summer league comprised of collegiate and NHL players with ties to Minnesota. Kunitz has 22 points in 22 games played against Nashville in his career.The defenseman said he was happy Nashville decided not to overhaul the roster after finishing 42-32-8 last season, three points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference, choosing instead to shore up holes with key veteran additions, including O'Reilly, forward Gustav Nyquist and defenseman Luke Schenn. Neal has a five-game point-scoring streak. His spot in the lineup was taken by LW Viktor Arvidsson, who was recalled from Milwaukee of the AHL. Notes: Nashville C Calle Jarnkrok missed the game with an illness. The Predators have lost four consecutive home games against Pittsburgh since last beating the Penguins on Jan. 'Fleury played well for them and we battled back in the third. 'I thought we played a really good game,' Nashville captain Shea Weber said. It was his first goal against the Penguins, and he has now scored against all 30 NHL teams. Neal, a former Penguin, leads Nashville with six goals. 'That 7-8 minute period, I know they scored at the end of it, but he was phenomenal at that time.' 'He didn't have a lot of action early in the game, but in the third period, he was outstanding,' Pittsburgh coach Mike Johnston said. 'I wish he didn't get that goal, but we got the win, so that's what is more important.'įleury finished with 37 saves, 33 of which came in the second and third periods. 'I didn't want him to score at all,' Fleury said about his former teammate. With a delayed penalty coming to the Penguins and an extra attacker on for the Predators, Neal beat Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury with a tough angle shot from goal line on the right side into the far corner of the net. Neal tied it with 8:33 left in the third. Nashville had scored first in each of their previous seven games this season. He left the puck for Kunitz at the top of the circle, where he sent a slap shot past Rinne on the far side. Just after being released from the penalty box after serving a tripping penalty, Malkin carried the puck into the Nashville zone on the left side. Kunitz scored the game's first goal with 4:56 left in the second period. Rinne finished with 23 saves for the Predators, who earned five out of six points on their three-game homestand. 'They went in on a 2-on-1 and we should have had a power play.' 'He got tripped, everybody saw it,' Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. 'Fortunately I got a rebound and there was an empty net.'Īs Kessel crossed the blue line on the play, Evgeni Malkin appeared to come into contact with Nashville's Filip Forsberg, causing Forsberg to fall to the ice and giving Kessel a clear path to the net.

'I just kind of wheeled around and got a 2-on-1 there,' Kessel said. His first shot was denied by Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne, but he was able to tap the rebound in for the win. Less than a minute into the 3-on-3 overtime, Kessel took the puck toward the Nashville net on the left side. James Neal scored for Nashville, which lost at home for the first time this season. Kessel scored 41 seconds into the extra period to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.Ĭhris Kunitz had the other goal for Pittsburgh, which won for the fourth time in five games. (AP) '” All Phil Kessel needed in overtime was a little open ice.

Predators penguins score