Nashville Predators Take on the New York Rangers
After a tough 7-4 loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday, the Nashville Predators (21-31-7, 49 points) are eager to turn things around as they head to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Rangers (29-26-4, 62 points) on Sunday. The Predators will be counting on Justus Annunen to stand strong in net, while the Rangers will have Jonathan Quick between the pipes. This game marks a significant milestone for Quick, who becomes the 17th goaltender and second U.S.-born goaltender in NHL history to appear in 800 career games.
Lineup Adjustments and Injuries
Head coach Andrew Brunette opted for a lineup that featured 11 forwards and seven defensemen against the Rangers. The Predators’ forward lines were as follows: Smith, O’Reilly, and Sissons on the first line; Forsberg, Stamkos, and Marchessault on the second; Lucchini, McCarron, and Bellows on the third; and Novak and Evangelista rounding out the fourth line. The defense corps included Skjei and Blankenburg, Del Gaizo and Schenn, and Stastney and Barron, with Englund on the blue line as well. Annunen and Saros were the goaltenders, and the team was without Jankowski (day-to-day, upper-body) and L’Heureux (week-to-week, upper-body). Fedor Svechkov was also a healthy scratch, and the team is still without Lauzon, Wilsby, and Josi due to injuries. The Predators are also down a forward after trading Gustav Nyquist to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday for a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
First Period: A Rough Start
The game started with a bang, as Rangers forward Matt Rempe laid a hard hit on Nick Blankenburg, sending him head-first into the glass behind the Nashville net just past the four-minute mark. Andreas Englund didn’t take kindly to the hit and dropped the gloves with Rempe. The physicality continued as Rempe was assessed a two-minute minor for elbowing and a five-minute fighting major. Englund, on the other hand, received two for instigating, five for fighting, and an additional 10-minute misconduct. Despite the penalty, the Predators successfully killed it off. However, the Rangers broke through at the 8:32 mark when Artemi Panarin scored a one-timer from the high slot to give New York a 1-0 lead.
Second Period: Penalties and More Goals
The Predators found themselves in penalty trouble early in the second period. Jonathan Marchessault was whistled for tripping just 26 seconds into the frame, and the Rangers capitalized on the power play. J.T. Miller found the back of the net, extending New York’s lead to 2-0. The Predators’ troubles continued when K’Andre Miller beat Annunen in transition, receiving a feed from J.T. Miller and roofing a backhand shot at the 3:25 mark to make it 3-0 Rangers. The Predators struggled to generate any momentum, and the Rangers’ dominant performance continued to stifle any hopes of a comeback.
Third Period: A Decisive Finish
The final period was a nail-biter, but the Rangers sealed their victory with a goal from Brett Berard. With just under three minutes remaining in regulation, Berard put the puck away with a top-shelf shot, making the final score 4-0 in favor of the Rangers. The Predators’ defense was overwhelmed, and Annunen, despite making several notable saves, couldn’t keep the Rangers off the board. The game highlighted the Predators’ struggles on both ends of the ice, particularly their power play, which has now failed to convert in 15 of the last 16 opportunities.
Key Takeaways and Notable Milestones
The game was a tough one for the Predators, who are now 1-for-16 on the power play since the 4 Nations break. However, the Rangers’ Jonathan Quick added another significant achievement to his illustrious career, becoming the sixth different goaltender in the past 50 years to register three shutouts in a single season at age 39 or older. Quick’s experience and poise were evident throughout the game, and his performance was a key factor in the Rangers’ victory.
Up Next: A Boston Bruins Challenge
The Predators will look to regroup as they wrap up their three-game road trip with a visit to the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Tuesday. The puck drops at 6 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast regionally on FanDuel Sports Network South and on ESPN+ for out-of-market customers in the United States. The Bruins are a formidable opponent, and the Predators will need to find their form quickly if they hope to secure a win. Stay tuned to The Hockey News Nashville Predators team site for the latest updates, game day coverage, player features, and more.
